Check how Universal Credit is changing in 2026

This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Scotland, See advice for Wales

Updated: 27 August 2025

The government have announced changes to Universal Credit that will affect everyone from April 2026. This is the result of the ‘Universal Credit Bill’.

The amount of Universal Credit you get will change. This is because the Universal Credit 'standard allowance' is increasing. A monthly Universal Credit payment is made up of a standard allowance plus any additional payments you might get based on your circumstances.

You might also be affected by the April 2026 changes if you get the additional payment because you have a long-term health condition or a disability. This payment is called the 'limited capability for work-related activity' (LCWRA) element. The amount is decreasing for most people who aren’t already getting it.

If you get any other benefits, they will not be affected by the Universal Credit Bill - the changes only apply to Universal Credit. For example, if you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP), it will not be affected by these changes.

We’ll update the advice on this page as we find out more.

Check how the Universal Credit ‘standard allowance’ is changing

Everyone’s Universal Credit includes a ‘standard allowance’. How much you get depends on your age and if you live with a partner.

The standard amount will increase for everyone in April 2026. We’ll update this advice when the government publish the figures - this should be in late 2025.

You can check the current standard allowance you can get on Universal Credit.

If you have a long-term health condition or a disability

You might get an additional payment with your Universal Credit called 'limited capability for work-related activity' (LCWRA) element. This is £423.27 extra each month, but the amount will be smaller for most people who start getting it after 5 April 2026 - it will be £217.26 a month.

If you already get the LCWRA element, you don’t need to do anything. The amount you get will not go down because of the April 2026 changes.

If you’re thinking of applying for LCWRA with Universal Credit, you should do this as soon as possible. If you start getting the LCWRA element before 6 April 2026, you’ll keep getting the current, higher rate.

If you’re thinking of applying for Universal Credit

You should apply as soon as possible so you get the higher amount. There is usually a 3-month wait period before you start getting the LCWRA element, so you should apply as soon as you can. Make sure you tell the DWP about your disability or health condition in your application.

Check what you need to do to get Universal Credit if you have a long-term health condition, disability or sickness.

If you’re already claiming benefits

Universal Credit is gradually replacing:

  • Housing Benefit

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

  • Income Support

If you get one of these, you might be better off waiting until you get a letter telling you to claim Universal Credit. This is a ‘migration notice’.

Talk to an adviser to check if you’ll be better off claiming Universal Credit.

If you get Universal Credit but don’t have ‘limited capability for work and work-related activity’ (LCWRA)

You might get more Universal Credit if you have difficulty working because you’re sick, are disabled or have a long-term health condition.

The DWP might say you have either:

  • 'limited capability for work' (LCW)

  • 'limited capability for work-related activity' (LCWRA)

You usually will not get any extra money for LCW. If you get LCW and your condition has become worse, you might get LCWRA instead. Talk to an adviser to check if you might be able to get LCWRA with your Universal Credit.

If the DWP say you have LCWRA, you will get the LCWRA element with your Universal Credit. This is an extra £423.27 each month. If you start getting it before 6 April 2026, you’ll keep getting the higher rate. If you start getting it after this date, you’ll usually get less - this will be £217.26 a month.

To get LCWRA you need to tell the DWP that you have difficulty working because you’re disabled, are sick or have a long-term health condition. You can do this on your online account or by calling the Universal Credit helpline. There is usually a 3-month wait period, so you should do this as soon as possible.

Check how to tell the DWP you have a long-term health condition, disability or sickness while getting Universal Credit.

If you already get a ‘limited capability for work and work-related activity’ (LCWRA) payment

You don’t need to do anything.

The amount you get will not go down because of the April 2026 changes. You will not get less than you do now. The current LCWRA element amount is £423.27 each month

You'll keep getting the higher rate if you're reassessed for LCWRA in the future, as long as:

  • the DWP confirm you still have LCWRA

  • you've been continuously getting the higher rate since before 6 April 2026

If you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Earlier in 2025, the government proposed changes to who can get PIP. They aren’t going ahead with these, but will consider future changes. They might happen in 2026.

If you’re thinking of applying for PIP, you should. You’re more likely to get PIP if you apply before the rules change. You can check if you’re eligible for PIP.

If you’re worried about other benefit changes

The government have also discussed future changes to other benefits. You might have read about some of this in the news.

Any changes are unlikely to happen before 2027. If anything is announced, we'll update our advice.

Help us improve our website

Take 3 minutes to tell us if you found what you needed on our website. Your feedback will help us give millions of people the information they need.

Page last reviewed on 26 August 2025