These are the headline weekly or monthly figures. Actual entitlements depend on individual circumstances.
Benefit
Who qualifies
2026/27 rate
UC — Single under 25
Single claimant aged 16–24
£311.68/month
UC — Single 25 or over
Single claimant aged 25+
£393.45/month
UC — Couple, both under 25
Joint claimants, both aged 16–24
£489.23/month
UC — Couple, one or both 25+
Joint claimants, at least one aged 25+
£617.60/month
UC — Child element (first child, pre-Apr 2017)
First child born before 6 April 2017
£333.33/month
UC — Child element (subsequent/post-Apr 2017)
Second+ child (or first child born after 5 Apr 2017)
£287.92/month
UC — LCWRA element
Limited capability for work and work-related activity
£416.19/month
UC — Carer element
Caring 35+ hours/week for a severely disabled person
£198.31/month
Child Benefit — first child
Responsible for a child under 16 (or 20 if in approved education)
£26.05/week
Child Benefit — additional children
Each additional qualifying child
£17.25/week
About the UK Benefits System
The UK benefits system provides a safety net for people on low incomes, out of work, caring for children, or managing health conditions. The system is administered mainly through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HMRC.
Universal Credit is the main working-age benefit, designed to make it pay to work by tapering away gradually rather than stopping abruptly. It replaced six legacy benefits between 2013 and 2025 and is now the primary route for most new claimants of working-age support.
Child Benefit is paid by HMRC to any person responsible for a qualifying child under 16 (or under 20 in approved education or training). It is not means-tested to receive, but higher earners repay some or all of it through the High Income Child Benefit Charge via Self Assessment.
Council Tax is a local tax, not a national benefit, but it is included here because Council Tax Reduction — administered by individual councils — is one of the most widely available means-tested discounts available to people on low incomes, and the single-person discount affects millions of households.
All figures on this page are for England unless otherwise stated. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have some variations — in particular, Scotland has its own Child Payment and some Council Tax arrangements differ in Wales.
Benefits Guides
Plain-English explanations of how each benefit works, with worked examples and the rules you actually need to know.
Universal Credit is a monthly means-tested benefit that replaced six older benefits — Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income Support and Employment and Support Allowance. It is paid in arrears each month and is designed to taper away gradually as your earnings increase, so it always pays to work more hours. The amount you receive depends on your household type, number of children, housing costs, earnings and any health or caring responsibilities.
Child Benefit in 2026/27 is £26.05 per week for your eldest or only child and £17.25 per week for each additional child. That is £1,354.60 per year for one child, or £2,251.60 for two children. If the highest earner in your household has adjusted net income above £60,000, the High Income Child Benefit Charge begins to claw back the benefit, reaching full repayment at £80,000.
You still receive Child Benefit payments regardless of your income, but if your adjusted net income exceeds £60,000 you must register for Self Assessment and pay the High Income Child Benefit Charge. The charge is 1% of the Child Benefit received for every £200 of income above £60,000. At £80,000 the charge equals 100% of the benefit — so you effectively repay all of it. Some families choose to opt out of receiving Child Benefit to avoid the admin, but it is worth keeping your National Insurance record in good shape and receiving Child Benefit so children's NI credits are recorded.
If you are the only adult living in your home, you qualify for a 25% reduction on your Council Tax bill. This is called the single person discount (or single occupant discount). You must apply to your local council for this — it does not apply automatically. Certain people are not counted for Council Tax purposes, including full-time students, people with severe mental impairments and apprentices — so if another person in your home is disregarded, you may still qualify for the 25% discount.
Yes — Council Tax Reduction (CTR), formerly called Council Tax Benefit, provides a reduction in your Council Tax bill if you are on a low income or receiving certain benefits. Unlike Universal Credit, CTR is administered and funded by your local council, so the scheme varies by area. Most councils provide up to 100% reduction for people receiving Pension Credit or other qualifying benefits. Working-age claimants typically receive a partial reduction that tapers with income. Apply directly to your local council.
The calculators on UKCalc use the published 2026/27 rates and rules for England and provide a close estimate of your entitlement. However, benefits assessments involve many individual factors that cannot always be captured in a simple calculator — especially Universal Credit, where housing costs, childcare support, the two-child limit and sanctions can significantly affect your actual award. Use these tools for guidance and planning, but always check your full entitlement via gov.uk or an independent benefits adviser such as Citizens Advice.
Related Calculators
Other UKCalc tools that interact with benefits entitlements.