Universal Credit rates 2026/27: how much you get
For 2026/27 the Universal Credit standard allowance is £338.58 a month if you're single and under 25, £424.90 if you're single and 25 or over, £528.34 for a couple both under 25, and £666.97 for a couple where either is 25 or over. Extra elements are added on top for children, housing, health, caring and childcare, the full tables are below, verified against the DWP's published rates.
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For 2026/27 the Universal Credit standard allowance is £338.58 a month if you're single and under 25, £424.90 if you're single and 25 or over, £528.34 for a couple both under 25, and £666.97 for a couple where either is 25 or over. Extra elements are added on top for children, housing, health, caring and childcare, the full tables are below, verified against the DWP's published rates.
Written by Nathan Deeble, OneLetter founder · How we check this · Last reviewed: August 2026 · Checked against gov.uk · Information only, not legal advice
Universal Credit rates 2026/27: the essentials
- Single, 25 or over
- £424.90/month standard allowance
- Couple, one/both 25+
- £666.97/month standard allowance
- Child element
- £303.94/month per child (£351.88 for a first child born before 6 April 2017), now paid for ALL children
- Health element (LCWRA)
- £429.80 protected rate · £217.26 for new claims from 6 April 2026
- Earnings taper
- 55p reduction per £1 earned above your work allowance
Standard allowance 2026/27
The standard allowance is the base of every Universal Credit award, set by your age and whether you claim as a single person or a couple (couples get one combined payment):
| Claimant | Monthly standard allowance 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Single, under 25 | £338.58 |
| Single, 25 or over | £424.90 |
| Couple, both under 25 | £528.34 |
| Couple, one or both 25 or over | £666.97 |
Source: DWP Benefit and pension rates 2026/2027.
Child elements, including the two-child limit removal
From assessment periods beginning on or after 6 April 2026 the two-child limit no longer applies: the child element is paid for every child on your claim, not just the first two.
| Element | Monthly amount 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| First child (born before 6 April 2017) | £351.88 |
| Each other child (and first child born on/after 6 April 2017) | £303.94 |
| Disabled child addition, lower rate | £164.79 |
| Disabled child addition, higher rate | £514.71 |
| Childcare costs, maximum, one child | £1,071.09 |
| Childcare costs, maximum, two or more children | £1,836.16 |
Childcare element covers up to 85% of paid childcare, capped at these maximums.
Health element (LCWRA): two rates now exist
Since 6 April 2026 the amount you get for limited capability for work and work-related activity depends on when your claim (or health decision) started:
| Your situation | Monthly LCWRA amount |
|---|---|
| Pre-April-2026 claimant, severe conditions criteria, or terminally ill | £429.80 |
| New health-element decisions from 6 April 2026 | £217.26 (frozen at this level to 2029/30) |
| LCW element (older claims only) | £158.76 |
The £429.80 protected rate keeps rising with inflation; the £217.26 rate is frozen by the Universal Credit Act 2025. See our health-element guide for who counts as protected.
Carer element, work allowances and the taper
| Item | 2026/27 value |
|---|---|
| Carer element (35+ hours/week caring) | £209.34/month |
| Work allowance, with housing support | £427/month |
| Work allowance, without housing support | £710/month |
| Earnings taper | 55p per £1 above the allowance |
| Capital limits | £6,000 (deductions start) / £16,000 (no UC) |
Work allowances apply only if your award includes the child element or you have limited capability for work.
Worked example: a single parent, 28, with two children and rent covered by the housing element, earning £900 take-home. Standard allowance £424.90 + two child elements £607.88 + housing element (varies) = base award. Earnings above the £427 work allowance are £473, so the award falls by £473 × 55% = £260.15. Every extra £100 earned costs £55 of UC.
How much can be deducted from these amounts
If you owe money, an advance, an overpayment, or arrears, most deductions are capped at 15% of your standard allowance (£63.74 for a single person 25+). Individual third-party arrears deductions are usually 5% each (£21.25), rent arrears 10-15%. Our deductions guide explains the caps, the priority order, and how to ask for a lower rate; the deduction rates table lists every 2026/27 cash figure.
What happens if you ignore it?
Rates change every April and the newspapers usually report weekly-equivalent or out-of-date figures, so it's worth checking your own statement against the current monthly numbers above. If a figure on your statement doesn't match what you expect from these tables, a missing child element, the wrong LCWRA rate, an unexplained deduction, that's exactly the situation where uploading the statement for a proper check, or querying it in your journal, pays for itself.
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Check a letter, freeFrequently asked questions
How much is Universal Credit for a single person in 2026?
£338.58 a month if you're under 25, £424.90 if you're 25 or over, before any elements for children, housing, health or caring are added, and before any earnings taper or deductions.
Did Universal Credit go up in April 2026?
Yes, most rates rose with the annual uprating, and the two-child limit was removed from 6 April 2026. One exception: the new-claim health element is £217.26 and stays frozen until 2029/30.
How much do I get per child in 2026/27?
£303.94 a month for each child (£351.88 if your first child was born before 6 April 2017), now paid for every child on your claim, plus disabled child additions of £164.79 or £514.71 where they apply.
Official sources & free help
For the full detail, and free, independent advice, see: