40 articles tagged with Universal Credit.
Understanding the overlap between Child Benefit and Universal Credit in 2026 -- the High Income Child Benefit Charge, UC child element, and which to prioritise.
Help to Save pays a 50% government bonus on savings for UC and Working Tax Credit claimants. Save up to £50/month and earn up to £1,200 in bonuses over 4 years.
Universal Credit housing element in 2026 is based on Local Housing Allowance rates, bedroom entitlement, and rent charges. We explain how to calculate your housing cost element.
How UC surplus earnings work, the carry-forward calculation, interaction with the Minimum Income Floor, seasonal income challenges, and managing fluctuating self-employed income.
What UK landlords need to know about renting to tenants on Universal Credit in 2026/27 — housing element payments, discrimination law, mortgage terms, and risk management.
Adopted children are exempt from the two-child limit on Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit. How the exemption works, and how it interacts with the benefit cap, in 2026/27.
The benefit cap is set higher for households in Greater London than the rest of the UK, reflecting higher housing costs. A worked example of how the London rate applies in 2026/27.
Nearly a third of UK 20-somethings now live with their parents. If your adult child moves back in, here's exactly what happens to your single-person council tax discount, their benefit entitlement, and the real household budget impact.
Being employed doesn't rule out benefit entitlement. A guide to the in-work benefits working UK households commonly miss in 2026, from Universal Credit to Council Tax Support.
You can't claim both Tax-Free Childcare and the Universal Credit childcare element at the same time. How the two compare in 2026/27, and which is usually better for different income levels.
How the two-child limit on Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit works, which exceptions apply, and why families should always check the current rules given ongoing policy reviews.
How DWP's managed migration of legacy benefits to Universal Credit works in 2026/27, what the migration notice letter means, and the deadline to act to protect transitional protection.
Free school meals eligibility in England depends on a £7,400 net household earnings threshold for Universal Credit claimants in 2026/27 — worth around £500 a year per child, with wider eligibility from September 2026.
How the Funeral Expenses Payment (Funeral Payment) works for people on means-tested benefits in 2026/27 — what costs it covers, what it doesn't, and why it can leave a shortfall recovered from the estate.
The Universal Credit taper rate is 55% in 2026/27 — for every £1 you earn above your work allowance, your payment falls by 55p. Full worked example and work allowance figures.
The full list of benefit cap exemptions for 2026/27 — the earnings threshold, disability and carer exemptions, and how the grace period works before the cap starts to bite.
How the Carer's Allowance earnings limit works in 2026/27, why it is a hard cliff-edge rather than a taper, and how to avoid accidentally losing the whole benefit by earning just a few pounds too much.
How Discretionary Housing Payments work in 2026/27: who qualifies, the bedroom tax and benefit cap link, how councils decide, and how to apply for extra help with rent.
How the two-child limit affects Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit in 2026/27 — who is exempt, how the child element is calculated, and what the exceptions actually mean in practice.
Employment and Support Allowance comes in contribution-based (New Style) and income-related forms, with very different eligibility rules and interaction with Universal Credit. Here's how they differ in 2026.
The Work Capability Assessment decides whether you're treated as unable to work for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance purposes. Here's how the process, groups and scoring work in 2026.
How the Minimum Income Floor affects self-employed Universal Credit claimants in 2026/27 -- MIF calculation at NLW x 35 hours, UC award impact, suspension rules and alternatives explained.
The Habitual Residence Test (HRT) applies to Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, JSA, and Pension Credit. Who passes, who fails, and how returning UK nationals and EEA nationals are assessed.
Who can still claim Housing Benefit in 2026/27, how Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates work, bedroom entitlement rules, and how the benefit cap affects your award.
LHA is set at the 30th percentile of local rents per bedroom category. How BRMAs, bedroom entitlement and regional LHA rates work in 2026/27, with London vs Manchester examples.
The 2026/27 benefit cap limits total UC and other benefits to £26,677/yr (family, outside London). Find out if you're affected and how to reduce your cap.
How universal credit side hustle income affects your payments in 2026/27 — the 55p taper rate, work allowances, and what to report.
How the Universal Credit work allowance and 55p taper work in 2026/27, who qualifies, and how earnings, tax and National Insurance interact for working claimants.
The UC taper means you keep 45p of every extra pound you earn above your work allowance. Understanding this is key to making work pay.
The benefit cap limits total household benefits to GBP 442.31/week outside London for couples and lone parents, GBP 296.35 for single claimants. Key exemptions include work and PIP.
DWP is moving Working Tax Credit claimants to Universal Credit. Transitional protection tops up your UC to match your legacy benefit level. Miss the deadline and WTC stops immediately.
How the Help to Save account works: who qualifies, how to open one, the 50% government bonus after 2 and 4 years, and the impact on Universal Credit savings rules.
Working Tax Credit is closed to new claims. If you receive a Migration Notice from DWP, you must claim Universal Credit or lose your benefits permanently. This guide explains the key differences, the taper rate, the Minimum Income Floor and what to do.
How much Universal Credit could you get in 2026? We explain the standard allowance, the extra elements, the work allowance and how the 55% taper reduces your award as your earnings rise.
Universal Credit standard allowances for 2026/27, the 55p earnings taper, work allowances, childcare costs, and how UC compares to the legacy benefits it replaces — including who gains and who loses.
How Universal Credit earnings taper works in 2026/27: 55p in every £1 above your work allowance, £673/£404 thresholds, childcare element, benefit cap and two-child limit.
Billions in benefits go unclaimed every year in the UK. This guide covers who qualifies for Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Tax-Free Childcare and council tax support.
Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit are being replaced by Universal Credit. Who can still claim legacy benefits in 2026, managed migration deadlines, and what you'd get on UC instead.
Most UK benefits uprate in April, but some change in September/November. When Universal Credit changes, what triggers uprating, and the full 2026/27 rates guide.
Universal Credit reduces by 55p for every £1 you earn above your work allowance. Here's the full 2026/27 taper maths, worked examples for different family types, and the benefits trap explained.
