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UK benefits & everyday calculators

Find out what you're entitled to — in under a minute

Millions of pounds in UK benefits go unclaimed every year. Enter your household income and circumstances below for an instant, anonymous estimate of your Universal Credit and benefits entitlement for 2025/26.

  • 2025/26 DWP rates
  • 100% anonymous
  • No sign-up, no cost
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Benefit entitlement calculator

A guide to your monthly Universal Credit. Estimate only — confirm on GOV.UK.

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Estimated monthly Universal Credit
£0.00 / month

    This is a guide only and not a benefit award. For an official figure use the GOV.UK benefits calculators or a free adviser at Turn2us.

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    Why so many people miss out on benefits they're owed

    Every year around £23 billion in benefits and support goes unclaimed across the UK, according to estimates from Policy in Practice and the charity Turn2us. The reasons are rarely about eligibility — they're about confusion. The system is complex, the language is intimidating, and many people simply assume they "won't qualify" without ever checking.

    Universal Credit has replaced six older "legacy" benefits — including Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance — into a single monthly payment. Whether you qualify, and for how much, depends on your income, savings, housing costs, number of children, and any health conditions. Our calculator brings those factors together so you can get a realistic figure in seconds, before deciding whether to make a claim.

    💡 Quick answer

    For 2025/26, a single person aged 25 or over receives a Universal Credit standard allowance of £400.14 a month. A couple both aged 25 or over get £628.10 a month. Extra "elements" are added for children, housing costs and disability, then your award is reduced by 55p for every £1 you earn above any work allowance.

    How our benefit calculator works

    The calculator follows the same logic the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) uses to build a Universal Credit award. It starts from your standard allowance, then adds the elements that apply to your household:

    • Child element — an extra amount for each dependent child (a higher rate applies to a first child born before 6 April 2017).
    • Housing element — help towards rent, capped at your eligible rent.
    • Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) — an additional amount if a health condition limits your ability to work.

    It then applies two reductions: the earnings taper (your award falls by 55% of net earnings above the work allowance) and a capital deduction if your savings are above £6,000. Savings above £16,000 usually mean you can't claim Universal Credit at all. These are exactly the thresholds published in the DWP's "What you'll get" guidance for 2025/26.

    2025/26 Universal Credit standard allowance rates

    Your circumstancesMonthly standard allowance
    Single, under 25£316.98
    Single, 25 or over£400.14
    Couple, both under 25£497.55
    Couple, one or both 25 or over£628.10

    Source: DWP / GOV.UK, 2025/26 benefit rates. Figures shown per assessment period (roughly one month).

    MB
    Reviewed by Mustafa Bilgic
    Founder, Calcu · Consumer-finance tools

    "We built Calcu so that checking your entitlement feels as easy as checking the weather. Every figure here is mapped to the official DWP rates, and we link you straight to GOV.UK so you can act with confidence."

    FAQ

    Benefit calculator questions, answered

    Is this benefits calculator accurate?

    It gives a close estimate using the official 2025/26 Universal Credit rates published by the DWP. Your actual award depends on a full assessment of your circumstances — including your exact earnings each month and your housing situation — so always confirm with an official check on GOV.UK or a free adviser at Citizens Advice or Turn2us.

    Do I have to enter my name or any personal details?

    No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server, saved, or shared with anyone. It is completely anonymous and free to use.

    What is the Universal Credit standard allowance for 2025/26?

    For 2025/26 the monthly standard allowance is £400.14 for a single person aged 25 or over, £316.98 if single and under 25, £628.10 for a couple where one or both are 25 or over, and £497.55 for a couple both under 25.

    Does earning money reduce my Universal Credit?

    Yes. After any work allowance, Universal Credit is reduced by 55p for every £1 you earn from work — this is called the taper rate. Our calculator applies the 55% taper and the relevant work allowance automatically, so the figure you see reflects your earnings.

    Will my savings affect my claim?

    Savings and capital between £6,000 and £16,000 reduce your award by £4.35 a month for every £250 (or part of £250) above £6,000. If you have more than £16,000 in savings you usually cannot claim Universal Credit at all. The calculator applies these rules for you.