What will my pay or profit do to Universal Credit?
Shows what your pay or profit does to your Universal Credit for one month, how much of each extra £1 you keep, and your money in all.
Your answer
Answer the questions to see what your pay or profit does to your Universal Credit.
About this calculator
For people on Universal Credit, or thinking of claiming, who earn from a job or from working for themselves. Universal Credit is worked out one month at a time (the assessment period), so we show one month.
It shows your payment for the month, how much of each extra £1 you keep, the pay at which Universal Credit stops, and your money in all. We warn you if the benefit cap (a limit on total benefits) could cut your payment, but we don't work it out. We don't cover rent limits, advances or deductions either, so check your statement too. Scotland isn't covered.
What happens to your answers
We don’t keep them. Your answers go to our server to do the sums and aren’t stored or logged. If you copy a link to your answers, they’re in the link itself, so only share it with people you trust.
How it’s worked out
We start with the most you could get: a basic amount, an amount for every child (there's no two-child limit from 6 April 2026), your housing amount and extras, and 85% of childcare you pay, up to £1,071.09 for one child or £1,836.16 for two or more.
Then we take off every £1 of money that isn't pay or profit, and £4.35 a month for each £250 of savings over £6,000. Over £16,000 there's no Universal Credit. With a child or a health condition that limits work, you can earn £427 a month first (£710 if your award has no housing amount). Above that, Universal Credit goes down by 55p for each £1. For example, a parent with one child, £600 for rent and £1,000 pay after tax can earn £427 first. The other £573 costs 55p in each £1, which is £315.15. The most they could get is £1,328.84, so they get £1,013.69.
Worked example
You'd get £1,013.69 of Universal Credit this month, and £2,013.69 in all with your pay.
Month starting on or after 6 April 2026 · single · 1 child · housing and extras from your award · pay and profit after tax, National Insurance and pension
| Basic amount (standard allowance), single, 25 or over | £424.90 |
|---|---|
| For 1 child at £303.94 each (there's no two-child limit from 6 April 2026) | + £303.94 |
| Housing amount, from your award | + £600 |
| The most you could get this month | £1,328.84 |
| Pay and profit this month, after tax, National Insurance and pension | £1,000 |
| You can earn £427 first (work allowance, lower because of housing costs) | £427 |
| 55p for each £1 of £573 earned above that | − £315.15 |
| Universal Credit this month | £1,013.69 |
Worked out for one month (an assessment period) with the Universal Credit amounts for months starting on or after 6 April 2026, from GOV.UK and the Universal Credit Regulations 2013.
Questions people ask
Why did I get less Universal Credit than I expected?
Universal Credit looks at one month at a time. If two paydays land in one month, both count in that month, so your payment can drop, then go back up the month after.
What if I work for myself and earn very little?
After a 12 month start-up period, Universal Credit can count you as earning a set amount (the minimum income floor): the minimum wage for 35 hours a week, less its own figure for tax and National Insurance. If you earn less than that, your payment is lower than this calculator shows. Your journal says whether it applies.
Is there still a two-child limit?
No. From 6 April 2026 Universal Credit pays an amount for every child who lives with you.
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