Universal Credit

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What you'll get

Universal Credit is paid monthly. How much you get depends on:

  • your standard allowance
  • any extra amounts that apply to you
  • any money taken off your payment
  • if you바카라 사이트檙e working, how much you earn

See how much you could get by using a benefits calculator.

Standard allowance

You바카라 사이트檒l get one standard allowance for your household.

How much you바카라 사이트檒l get Monthly standard allowance
If you바카라 사이트檙e single and under 25 拢316.98
If you바카라 사이트檙e single and 25 or over 拢400.14
If you live with your partner and you바카라 사이트檙e both under 25 拢497.55 (for you both)
If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over 拢628.10 (for you both)

Extra amounts

You may get more money on top of your standard allowance if you바카라 사이트檙e eligible.

You will need to report changes when you become eligible for an extra amount. They are not added automatically. For example, if you become a carer you need to tell DWP. The carer바카라 사이트檚 element of Universal Credit is not automatically applied if you start getting Carer바카라 사이트檚 Allowance.

If you have children

You could get an extra amount for your children if they live with you. You would get the extra amount until the 31 August after their:

  • 16th birthday
  • 19th birthday, if they바카라 사이트檙e in eligible education or training 바카라 사이트� for example, they바카라 사이트檙e studying for GCSEs, A levels, BTECs, Scottish Highers and SVQs or NVQs up to level 3

You바카라 사이트檒l only get an extra amount for your first and second child. You will not get an extra amount for any more children unless:

  • your children were born before 6 April 2017
  • you were already claiming for 3 or more children before 6 April 2017
  • other exceptions apply
How much you바카라 사이트檒l get Extra monthly amount
For your first child (born before 6 April 2017) 拢339
For your first child (born on or after 6 April 2017) 拢292.81
For your second child and any other eligible children 拢292.81 per child

If your child has a disability

You might get an extra monthly amount if any of your children are disabled. You바카라 사이트檒l get this extra amount no matter how many children you have.聽

You바카라 사이트檒l get:

  • 拢158.76 if you get the lower rate

  • 拢495.87 if you get the higher rate

The amount you get depends on the benefits your child receives and whether they have specific disabilities.

Childcare costs

You can claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you바카라 사이트檙e working. If you live with your partner both of you need to be working, unless one of you is unable to work due to a disability or health condition.

The childcare needs to be from a registered provider. You can get help paying for childcare including nurseries, childminders, breakfast clubs, after school care and holiday clubs.

The most you can get each month is:

  • 拢1,031.88 for one child

  • 拢1,768.94 for 2 or more children

You need to pay your childcare costs up front and claim the money back as part of your payment. You can get support to help you pay your childcare costs up front. Talk to your work coach after you바카라 사이트檝e made your claim.

Read more about childcare costs and Universal Credit.

If you have a disability or health condition

How much you바카라 사이트檒l get Extra monthly amount
If you have limited capability for work and work-related activity 拢423.27
If you have limited capability for work and you started your health-related Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claim before 3 April 2017 拢158.76

If you live with your partner and you both have limited capability for work and work-related activity, you바카라 사이트檒l only get one extra monthly amount.

If you get the severe disability premium and you바카라 사이트檙e moving to Universal Credit, you might also be entitled to a 바카라 사이트榯ransitional protection바카라 사이트� payment.

Read more about health conditions, disability and Universal Credit.

You could get an extra amount known as a 바카라 사이트榗arer바카라 사이트檚 element바카라 사이트�. This is added to your Universal Credit if you care for someone who gets one of the following benefits:

You need to provide care for them for at least 35 hours a week.

You바카라 사이트檒l get an extra monthly amount of 拢201.68. If you live with your partner and you both care for the same person, you바카라 사이트檒l only get one extra monthly amount.

You may also be eligible for Carer바카라 사이트檚 Allowance.

This is on top of any extra amount you get if you have a disabled child.

If you are getting an extra amount because you have limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA), you cannot also get the carer바카라 사이트檚 element.

If the person you care for gets the severe disability premium, it will stop when you claim the carer바카라 사이트檚 element of Universal Credit.

Housing costs

You could get money to help pay your housing costs. The payment can cover rent and some service charges.

If you바카라 사이트檙e a homeowner, you might be able to get a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage.

Money taken off your payment

Your payments might be reduced if any of the following apply:

  • you are paying back an advance on a Universal Credit payment

  • you would get above the amount limited by the benefit cap

  • you바카라 사이트檝e been overpaid benefits in the past

  • you owe money for Council Tax, court fines, electricity, gas, water or Child Maintenance

  • you pay your gas or electricity bill directly from your Universal Credit payment

  • you have a paid job

  • you have other income 바카라 사이트� for example, money from pensions or certain other benefits

  • you have more than 拢6,000 in money, savings and investments

If you have over 拢6,000 in money, savings and investments, your payment will be reduced by 拢4.35 for every 拢250 you have between 拢6,000 and 拢16,000. Another 拢4.35 is taken off for any remaining amount that is not a complete 拢250.

Find out more about money taken off your Universal Credit payment.

Benefits that affect how much Universal Credit you get

You can get Universal Credit at the same time as other benefits. Your Universal Credit payment will be reduced by an amount equal to the other benefit바카라 사이트檚 payment. This applies when you get Universal Credit and any of the following benefits:

  • Armed Forces Pensions
  • Carer바카라 사이트檚 Allowance
  • Carer Support Payment (Scotland)
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (excluding any increases where constant attendance is needed and for exceptionally severe disablement)
  • Maternity Allowance
  • New Style Employment and Support Allowance
  • New Style Jobseeker바카라 사이트檚 Allowance
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • State Pension
  • Widowed Mother바카라 사이트檚 Allowance
  • Widowed Parent바카라 사이트檚 Allowance

Moving to Universal Credit from other benefits

If you바카라 사이트檝e applied for Universal Credit, you바카라 사이트檒l keep getting your current benefit paid for 2 more weeks. You must still be eligible for your current benefit.

This only applies if you바카라 사이트檙e getting:

  • income-based Jobseeker바카라 사이트檚 Allowance

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance

  • Income Support

  • Housing Benefit

You will not need to pay back the extra payments and they will not affect the Universal Credit you might get.

If you바카라 사이트檝e received a Migration Notice letter telling you to claim Universal Credit, you might also get a 바카라 사이트榯ransitional protection바카라 사이트� payment.

Other support you could get

If you receive Universal Credit you may also be able to get other financial support depending on your circumstances.

If your Universal Credit claim is reviewed

Your claim might be reviewed to make sure you바카라 사이트檙e getting the right payment and support. Find out more about Universal Credit reviews.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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