How much is the Universal Credit standard allowance in 2026/27?

The monthly Universal Credit standard allowance in 2026/27 is £338.58 for a single person under 25, £424.90 for a single person aged 25 or over, £528.34 for a couple both under 25, and £666.97 for a couple where either is 25 or over. Universal Credit is paid monthly.

How much extra Universal Credit do I get for children?

The Universal Credit child element is £351.88 a month for a first child born before 6 April 2017, and £303.94 a month for a first child born on or after 6 April 2017 and for second and subsequent children. A two-child limit applies to most children born on or after 6 April 2017.

How much help can I get with childcare on Universal Credit?

Universal Credit can reimburse up to 85% of your eligible childcare costs, up to monthly caps set by GOV.UK. You usually need to be in work to claim the childcare element. See gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs for the current caps.

How much can I earn before Universal Credit is reduced?

The monthly work allowance is £427.00 if you get help with housing costs, or £710.00 if you do not. You can earn up to your work allowance before your Universal Credit starts to reduce; earnings above it reduce your award through the standard earnings taper (see GOV.UK).

How much is Child Benefit in 2026/27?

Child Benefit is £27.05 a week for your eldest or only child (£1,406.60 a year) and £17.90 a week for each additional child (£930.80 a year). It is usually paid every 4 weeks.

What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?

If you or your partner have an adjusted net income over £60,000 a year, you may have to pay back some Child Benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge. The charge increases gradually and reaches the full amount of Child Benefit at £80,000. You can still claim Child Benefit and opt out of payments if you prefer.

GeraJobs / UK benefits

UK benefits 2026/27: Universal Credit & Child Benefit rates

Universal Credit is the UK’s main monthly benefit for people on a low income or out of work, and Child Benefit is a payment for people responsible for a child. This page shows the published 2026/27 GOV.UK rates and a free Universal Credit estimator — every figure is official.

How much is Universal Credit and Child Benefit in 2026/27?

In 2026/27 the Universal Credit monthly standard allowance is £424.90 for a single person aged 25 or over (£338.58 if under 25) and £666.97 for a couple aged 25 or over. Child Benefit is £27.05 a week for your eldest child and £17.90 for each additional child. Source: GOV.UK.

Source:GOV.UK — Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (HM Government / DWP / HMRC)·As of Tax year 2026/27 · updated annually (each April) · last refreshed 25 June 2026

Universal Credit standard allowances 2026/27

Your situation	Monthly standard allowance
Single, under 25	£338.58
Single, 25 or over	£424.90
Couple, both under 25	£528.34
Couple, either 25 or over	£666.97

The standard allowance is the basic monthly amount; extra elements (for children, childcare, housing, health conditions) are added on top. Universal Credit is paid monthly. Child element: £351.88 for a first child born before 6 April 2017, £303.94 for a first child born on/after 6 April 2017 and for other children. Work allowance: £427.00 (with housing help) or £710.00 (without). Childcare costs reimbursed up to 85%.

Universal Credit monthly estimate

Estimate your maximum monthly Universal Credit for 2026/27 from the real GOV.UK standard allowances and child elements. This is your award before any deduction for earnings.

Your situation

Number of children

First child born before 6 April 2017

Monthly childcare costs (£, optional)

Standard allowance	£424.90
Estimated maximum monthly UC	£424.90

Estimate your State Pension

Estimate only, and it shows your maximum award before the earnings taper. Earnings above your monthly work allowance reduce the amount you actually receive; a benefit cap and the two-child limit may also apply. Get an accurate figure at gov.uk/universal-credit. Figures are the published 2026/27 rates. Source: GOV.UK / DWP, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Child Benefit rates 2026/27

Child	Per week	Every 4 weeks	Per year (52 weeks)
Eldest or only child	£27.05	£108.20	£1,406.60
Each additional child	£17.90	£71.60	£930.80

Child Benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks. If you or your partner have an adjusted net income over £60,000 a year, the High Income Child Benefit Charge may apply (full clawback at £80,000). Source: gov.uk/child-benefit-rates.

UK benefits 2026/27 — FAQ

How much is the Universal Credit standard allowance in 2026/27?: The monthly Universal Credit standard allowance in 2026/27 is £338.58 for a single person under 25, £424.90 for a single person aged 25 or over, £528.34 for a couple both under 25, and £666.97 for a couple where either is 25 or over. Universal Credit is paid monthly.
How much extra Universal Credit do I get for children?: The Universal Credit child element is £351.88 a month for a first child born before 6 April 2017, and £303.94 a month for a first child born on or after 6 April 2017 and for second and subsequent children. A two-child limit applies to most children born on or after 6 April 2017.
How much help can I get with childcare on Universal Credit?: Universal Credit can reimburse up to 85% of your eligible childcare costs, up to monthly caps set by GOV.UK. You usually need to be in work to claim the childcare element. See gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs for the current caps.
How much can I earn before Universal Credit is reduced?: The monthly work allowance is £427.00 if you get help with housing costs, or £710.00 if you do not. You can earn up to your work allowance before your Universal Credit starts to reduce; earnings above it reduce your award through the standard earnings taper (see GOV.UK).
How much is Child Benefit in 2026/27?: Child Benefit is £27.05 a week for your eldest or only child (£1,406.60 a year) and £17.90 a week for each additional child (£930.80 a year). It is usually paid every 4 weeks.
What is the High Income Child Benefit Charge?: If you or your partner have an adjusted net income over £60,000 a year, you may have to pay back some Child Benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge. The charge increases gradually and reaches the full amount of Child Benefit at £80,000. You can still claim Child Benefit and opt out of payments if you prefer.

Related on GeraJobs

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Browse jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now across the UK.

Tax year 2026/27 (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027). Source: GOV.UK — Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (HM Government / DWP / HMRC), gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get and gov.uk/child-benefit-rates. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (OGL v3.0). GeraJobs presents these published figures and the estimator is a guide only — no figure is modelled or invented. For an accurate calculation use gov.uk/universal-credit.