Universal Credit Calculator 2026/27

Universal Credit starts with a standard allowance based on your age and whether you claim as a single person or a couple, then adds extra elements for children, housing costs, disability, or caring responsibilities where they apply. From April 2026, the standard allowance rises to £424.90/month for a single person aged 25 or over (up from £400.14), £338.58/month for a single person under 25, and £666.97/month for joint claimants both aged 25 or over — part of a 6.2% increase combining standard CPI uprating with an additional above-inflation boost required under the Universal Credit Act 2025.

If you or your partner are working, your Universal Credit is then reduced by the taper rate of 55% for every £1 you earn above your work allowance (if you have one) — meaning you keep 45p of every £1 earned above that threshold, rather than losing it entirely. Work allowances apply if you have children or limited capability for work, giving you an amount you can earn before the taper starts reducing your award.

Worked example: a single person aged 25+ with no children and no work allowance earning £800/month after tax would see their Universal Credit reduced by 55% of that £800 (£440), leaving a reduced award on top of their earned income — illustrating how UC is designed to taper away gradually as earnings rise, rather than being withdrawn all at once.

This calculator gives a general estimate based on the standard allowance and taper rate; your actual award also depends on housing costs, savings (capital over £16,000 usually disqualifies you entirely), any children, and other individual circumstances not captured in a simplified calculation. Check your exact entitlement via your Universal Credit online account.