Universal Credit · Estimator 2025/26 rules

Universal Credit Payment Estimator

Get a rough idea of your Universal Credit by combining the standard allowance, child elements, your housing amount and other extras – then applying the 55% taper to your earnings.

Uses the monthly standard allowance rates from GOV.UK.
This tool assumes support for up to 2 children under the usual rules.
If you’re not sure, choose “On or after” – that gives the lower first child rate.
Number on lower disabled child rate
Number on higher disabled child rate
Only include children who get the qualifying disability benefits.
If you qualify, we use a work allowance of £684 (no housing) or £411 (with housing).
£
What HMRC reports for this assessment period – wages, salary, etc.
£
Type in the housing part of your UC (or eligible rent) per month – this is different for everyone.
£
Optional – add up other UC extras from your statement (LCWRA, carer’s element, etc.).

This is a rough guide only. It doesn’t handle savings rules, sanctions, self-employment rules or every edge case – it’s just to help you see how the pieces fit.

Universal Credit estimate Estimate
Standard allowance
£0
Housing element
£0
Child elements (incl. disabled)
£0
Other elements
£0
Total before earnings
£0
Work allowance used
£0
Earnings used in taper
£0
Earnings deduction (55%)
£0
Estimated UC payment
£0

Your actual Universal Credit will always be whatever your official statement says.

How we’re using the child numbers

For children, this estimator:

  • Uses £339 for a first child born before 6 April 2017.
  • Uses £292.81 for a first child born on/after 6 April 2017.
  • Uses £292.81 for a second child (capped at 2 children under standard rules).
  • Adds £158.76 for each child on the lower disabled child rate.
  • Adds £495.87 for each child on the higher disabled child rate.

Anything else (LCWRA, carer’s element, transitional protection, etc.) can go in the “Other elements” box so you can match your statement as closely as possible.