Official UK government rates and thresholds for benefits, tax, pensions, wages, and regulatory compliance. All calculators updated for the 2025/26 tax year with HMRC, DWP, and GOV.UK data.
Calculate Universal Credit entitlement including housing, childcare, and work allowances.
Calculate NowEstimate your State Pension based on National Insurance contributions and qualifying years.
Calculate NowCalculate Child Benefit payments and High Income Child Benefit Charge liability.
Calculate NowCalculate take-home pay after Income Tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions.
Calculate NowDetermine your IR35 status and calculate tax implications for contractors.
Calculate NowCalculate exact net pay for any UK salary, including Scottish tax rates.
Calculate NowEstimate Council Tax based on property band and local authority rates.
Calculate NowCalculate electricity and gas costs using current UK energy price caps.
Calculate NowCalculate TV licence costs and payment options for UK households.
Calculate NowCompare and calculate UK broadband package costs and contract savings.
Calculate NowCalculate Body Mass Index using official NHS guidelines and healthy ranges.
Calculate NowCalculate alcohol units using UK Chief Medical Officers' guidelines.
Calculate NowPlan retirement with UK workplace and private pension projections.
Calculate NowThe United Kingdom operates one of the most comprehensive welfare and tax systems in the world, administered by multiple government bodies including HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and local authorities. Understanding your entitlements, obligations, and the various rates that affect your income requires navigating complex rules that change annually. Our calculators use official 2025/26 rates from GOV.UK sources to provide accurate estimates for benefits, tax, pensions, and household costs.
Whether you're claiming Universal Credit, planning for retirement with the State Pension, checking your National Insurance contributions, or calculating your Council Tax liability, having accurate and up-to-date information is essential. This comprehensive guide covers all the key UK-specific rates and thresholds you need to know for the current tax year, along with explanations of how each system works and interacts with others.
The UK has legally enforceable minimum wage rates that all employers must pay, regardless of business size or sector. The National Living Wage applies to workers aged 21 and over, while the National Minimum Wage applies to younger workers and apprentices. These rates are reviewed annually by the Low Pay Commission and typically increase each April.
| Worker Category | Hourly Rate (2025/26) | Weekly (40 hours) | Annual (Full-Time) |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Living Wage (21+) | £12.21 | £488.40 | £25,396.80 |
| 18-20 Year Olds | £10.00 | £400.00 | £20,800.00 |
| 16-17 Year Olds | £7.55 | £302.00 | £15,704.00 |
| Apprentices (Under 19 or First Year) | £7.55 | £302.00 | £15,704.00 |
| Accommodation Offset (Daily) | £10.66 | £74.62 | £3,890.90 |
HMRC actively enforces minimum wage legislation. Employers who underpay workers face penalties of up to 200% of the arrears owed (minimum £100, maximum £20,000 per worker), potential criminal prosecution, and public naming on the Government's list of non-compliant employers. Workers can recover up to 6 years of back pay through employment tribunals.
Universal Credit is the UK's main means-tested benefit, having replaced six legacy benefits: Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, and Working Tax Credit. Your total Universal Credit payment combines a standard allowance based on your age and household composition with additional elements reflecting your specific circumstances such as children, disabilities, housing costs, and childcare expenses.
| Circumstance | Monthly Amount | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Single claimant under 25 | £311.68 | £3,740.16 |
| Single claimant 25 or over | £393.45 | £4,721.40 |
| Joint claimants both under 25 | £489.23 | £5,870.76 |
| Joint claimants one/both 25+ | £617.60 | £7,411.20 |
| Child element (per child) | £288.56 | £3,462.72 |
| Disabled child addition (lower rate) | £156.11 | £1,873.32 |
| Disabled child addition (higher rate) | £487.58 | £5,850.96 |
| Limited capability for work element | £416.19 | £4,994.28 |
| Carer element | £198.31 | £2,379.72 |
Universal Credit includes work allowances that let you keep some earnings before your benefit is reduced. From April 2025:
The State Pension provides retirement income based on your National Insurance contribution record. The UK operates two main State Pension schemes: the new State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age from 6 April 2016 onwards) and the basic State Pension (for those who reached State Pension age before this date). Both schemes are protected by the triple lock, meaning they increase annually by the highest of average earnings growth, inflation (CPI), or 2.5%.
| Pension Type | Weekly Rate | Annual Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Full New State Pension | £221.20 | £11,502.40 |
| Basic State Pension (Category A/B) | £169.50 | £8,814.00 |
| Pension Credit Standard Minimum (Single) | £218.15 | £11,343.80 |
| Pension Credit Standard Minimum (Couple) | £332.95 | £17,313.40 |
| Pension Credit Savings Credit (Max Single) | £17.01 | £884.52 |
| Pension Credit Savings Credit (Max Couple) | £19.04 | £990.08 |
Child Benefit is a non-means-tested payment available to anyone responsible for a child under 16, or under 20 if they remain in approved education or training. The benefit is paid directly to the parent or guardian, typically every 4 weeks. However, families where either parent earns above £60,000 must repay some or all of the Child Benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC), which is collected through Self Assessment.
| Child Benefit Component | Weekly Rate | 4-Weekly Payment | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldest or only child | £25.60 | £102.40 | £1,331.20 |
| Each additional child | £16.95 | £67.80 | £881.40 |
| Two children (total) | £42.55 | £170.20 | £2,212.60 |
| Three children (total) | £59.50 | £238.00 | £3,094.00 |
The HICBC applies when either parent earns over £60,000 adjusted net income:
UK employers are legally required to provide statutory payments to employees in various circumstances including sickness, maternity, paternity, adoption, and bereavement. These payments represent minimum legal entitlements—many employers offer enhanced schemes that exceed statutory rates. Understanding these rates is essential for both employees planning leave and employers budgeting for staff costs.
| Statutory Payment Type | Weekly Rate | Duration | Qualifying Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) | £116.75 | Up to 28 weeks | Earning £123+/week, sick 4+ days |
| Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) - First 6 weeks | 90% of earnings | 6 weeks | 26 weeks service, £123+/week |
| SMP - Remaining 33 weeks | £184.03 or 90% | 33 weeks | Whichever is lower |
| Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP) | £184.03 or 90% | 2 weeks | 26 weeks service by 15th week |
| Statutory Adoption Pay (SAP) | £184.03 or 90% | 39 weeks | Same as SMP structure |
| Shared Parental Pay (ShPP) | £184.03 or 90% | Up to 37 weeks | Transferred from SMP/SAP |
| Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay | £184.03 or 90% | 2 weeks | On death of child under 18 |
Council Tax is a local taxation system used to fund local authority services including rubbish collection, street cleaning, libraries, and local policing. In England and Scotland, properties are assigned to bands based on their estimated value as of 1 April 1991 (England) or 1 April 2003 (Scotland and Wales). Band D is the baseline, with other bands charged as proportions of the Band D rate set by each local authority.
| Band | Property Value (England, 1991) | Ratio to Band D | Typical Annual Bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 (67%) | £1,200 - £1,700 |
| B | £40,001 - £52,000 | 7/9 (78%) | £1,400 - £1,950 |
| C | £52,001 - £68,000 | 8/9 (89%) | £1,600 - £2,200 |
| D | £68,001 - £88,000 | 9/9 (100%) | £1,800 - £2,500 |
| E | £88,001 - £120,000 | 11/9 (122%) | £2,200 - £3,050 |
| F | £120,001 - £160,000 | 13/9 (144%) | £2,600 - £3,600 |
| G | £160,001 - £320,000 | 15/9 (167%) | £3,000 - £4,200 |
| H | Over £320,000 | 18/9 (200%) | £3,600 - £5,000 |
The Ofgem Energy Price Cap limits the maximum amount energy suppliers can charge per unit of gas and electricity on default tariffs. While it doesn't cap total bills (which depend on your usage), it ensures consumers on standard variable tariffs aren't overcharged. The cap is reviewed quarterly and reflects wholesale energy costs, network charges, and supplier operating costs.
Under the January 2025 price cap, a typical household using 2,700 kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas pays approximately £1,738 per year. Energy-efficient homes may pay significantly less, while larger properties or those with poor insulation could pay considerably more. Fixed tariffs may offer savings below the price cap.
Beyond the main benefits covered above, the UK welfare system includes numerous additional payments and allowances for specific circumstances. These range from disability benefits to carer support, cold weather payments to funeral expenses help.
| Benefit/Allowance | Amount (2025/26) | Key Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Carer's Allowance | £81.90/week | 35+ hours caring, earnings under £151/week |
| Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - Daily Living Enhanced | £108.55/week | Health condition/disability assessment |
| PIP - Mobility Enhanced | £75.75/week | Mobility difficulties assessment |
| Attendance Allowance (Higher Rate) | £108.55/week | State Pension age+, care needs |
| Employment and Support Allowance (Support Group) | £138.20/week | Limited capability for work-related activity |
| Jobseeker's Allowance (25+) | £90.50/week | Actively seeking work, NI contributions |
| Winter Fuel Payment | £200-£300 | State Pension age (Pension Credit recipients) |
| Cold Weather Payment | £25 per 7-day period | Certain benefits, temp below 0°C |
IR35 is UK tax legislation designed to identify contractors who work through intermediaries (usually their own limited company) but would be employees if engaged directly. The off-payroll working rules determine whether you're genuinely in business on your own account or whether the nature of your engagement resembles employment, requiring tax and National Insurance to be deducted at source.
Since April 2021, medium and large private sector clients (annual turnover £10.2m+, balance sheet £5.1m+, or 50+ employees meeting two of three criteria) are responsible for determining the IR35 status of contractors. Small private sector companies and all public sector clients must make these determinations. Incorrect determinations can result in significant tax liabilities, penalties, and interest for the fee-payer.
Universal Credit rates for 2025/26 include: Single under 25 - £311.68/month, Single 25+ - £393.45/month, Couple (both 25+) - £617.60/month. Additional elements include child element (£288.56), disabled child (£156.11-£487.58), housing costs, and childcare (up to 85% of costs, max £1,014.63 for 2+ children). Earnings reduce UC at 55p per pound after work allowances.
The new State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age from 6 April 2016) is £221.20 per week (£11,502.40/year) in 2025/26. You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions for the full amount, or a minimum of 10 years for any pension. The basic State Pension (older scheme) is £169.50/week.
From April 2025, the National Living Wage (21+) is £12.21 per hour. National Minimum Wage rates are: 18-20 year olds £10.00/hour, 16-17 year olds £7.55/hour, Apprentices £7.55/hour. The accommodation offset is £10.66 per day. Employers who pay below these rates face penalties of up to 200% of arrears.
If you or your partner earn over £60,000, you must repay some Child Benefit through the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). The charge is 1% of Child Benefit for every £200 income above £60,000. At £80,000+, you repay it all. Child Benefit is £25.60/week for eldest child and £16.95 for additional children. You can opt out but should still claim for NI credits.
The Ofgem Energy Price Cap sets maximum unit rates suppliers can charge. From January 2025, the cap for a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit is approximately £1,738/year. This equates to around 24.50p/kWh for electricity and 6.24p/kWh for gas, plus daily standing charges. Actual bills depend on your usage.
IR35 is UK tax legislation determining whether a contractor is genuinely self-employed or effectively an employee for tax purposes. If 'inside IR35', you pay similar tax and NI to employees. Since April 2021 (private sector), the end client determines status. Key factors include: control over work, substitution rights, mutuality of obligation, and financial risk.
Council Tax is based on your property's valuation band (A-H in England) set by 1991 property values. Band D is the baseline. Actual amounts vary by local authority, typically £1,500 to £2,500 for Band D. Single occupants get 25% discount. Students, severely mentally impaired people, and live-in carers may be exempt. Second homes pay up to 200% in some areas from 2025.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is £116.75/week for up to 28 weeks. Statutory Maternity/Paternity/Adoption Pay is £184.03/week (or 90% of earnings if lower) for the flat rate period. Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay is also £184.03/week. Employers can recover 92% of statutory payments (103% for small employers qualifying for Small Employers' Relief).