Universal Credit Change of Circumstances Calculator

If you start work, UC reduces by 55p for every £1 you earn above your Work Allowance (£404/month if no housing costs, £160/month with housing element). This is the UC taper rate.

The taper rate is 55% — UC reduces by 55p for every £1 earned above your work allowance. If your earnings increase by £100, your UC reduces by £55 (not £100), so you always better off working.

The Work Allowance is the amount you can earn before UC starts to reduce. It is £404/month if you don't have a housing element, or £160/month if you do. Not all claimants have a work allowance.

You must report: changes in income (starting/leaving work, pay changes), moving house, changes to household members (partner moving in/out, new baby), changes in health conditions, change in savings or capital.

You must report changes within 1 month. Report via your online UC journal. Late reporting can result in overpayments that you must repay, or underpayments you may miss.

Yes. A child element of £290.60/month (first child) or £244.58/month (subsequent children) is added. The two-child limit means UC does not increase for third and subsequent children born after April 2017.

Your single claim changes to a joint claim. Both incomes and savings are assessed together. The joint standard allowance (£617.60/month for couples over 25 in 2025/26) replaces the single allowance.

UC reduces gradually as earnings increase (55p per £1 over allowance). It continues until your income reaches the "earnings threshold" where no UC is payable. For most working-age households this is around £25,000-30,000/year.

The Benefit Cap limits total benefits (including UC) to £26,948/year for families in London and £23,042 elsewhere. It does not apply if someone works enough hours to get Working Tax Credit equivalent earnings.

If you earn significantly more than usual one month (e.g., bonus), the surplus is carried forward and can reduce UC in future months.

No. The work allowance applies regardless of children, but childcare costs are covered up to 85% through the Childcare Element of UC, reducing the effective impact of childcare costs on work decisions.

You must report moving house. The housing element changes to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate for your new area, which may be higher or lower.