Check how Universal Credit is changing in 2026

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

The government have announced changes to Universal Credit that will affect everyone from April 2026. These changes are the result of the Universal Credit Act 2025 and the November 2025 budget.

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 amounts you might get based on your circumstances.

The government are also planning to remove the 2 child limit for Universal Credit from April 2026. This means you might get more Universal Credit if you’re responsible for 3 or more children.

You might also be affected by the April 2026 changes if you get an additional amount 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 - the changes only apply to Universal Credit. For example, if you get Adult Disability Payment, it will not be affected by these changes.

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.

Your circumstances	Standard amount before 6 April 2026	Standard amount from 6 April 2026
Your circumstances Single and under 25	Standard amount before 6 April 2026 £316.98 a month	Standard amount from 6 April 2026 £338.58 a month
Your circumstances Single and 25 or over	Standard amount before 6 April 2026 £400.14 a month	Standard amount from 6 April 2026 £424.90 a month
Your circumstances Living with a partner and both under 25	Standard amount before 6 April 2026 £497.55 a month	Standard amount from 6 April 2026 £528.34 a month
Your circumstances Living with a partner and one or both over 25	Standard amount before 6 April 2026 £628.10 a month	Standard amount from 6 April 2026 £666.97 a month

If you have 3 or more children

If you claim Universal Credit, you can get an extra amount for any children or qualifying young people you’re responsible for. This extra money is called the ‘child element’.

Under the current rules, you can only usually claim a child element for your first 2 children. To claim for any more children, they usually must have been born before 6 April 2017.

The government are planning to remove this 2 child limit from April 2026. This means you might be able to get a child element for each child, including if you have 3 or more. This will depend on your circumstances.

The government haven’t confirmed how this change will work - we’ll update our advice when we know more.

The 2 child limit still applies until April 2026. You can check how much Universal Credit you’ll get under the current rules.

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

You might get an additional payment with your Universal Credit called the 'limited capability for work-related activity' (LCWRA) element. Currently, this is £423.27 extra each month. The amount will be smaller for most people who start getting it on, or after, 6 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 Universal Credit

Most people will get the new, lower amount of £217.26 a month. This is because there's usually a 3-month wait period before you start getting the LCWRA element. Most people who apply now won't start getting the LCWRA element until after 6 April 2026.

You might get a higher amount if you’re terminally ill or the DWP say you meet specific criteria for people who have a severe condition. From 6 April 2026, this higher amount will be £429.08 a month.

In some situations, you might not have to wait 3 months to get the LCWRA element - for example, if you’re terminally ill. If you start getting the LCWRA element before 6 April 2026, you’ll get £423.27 a month. After 6 April, this will increase to £429.08 a month.

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 should have got a letter telling you to claim Universal Credit. This is a ‘migration notice’. If you’ve received one, you should apply for Universal Credit.

Talk to an adviser if you haven't received a migration notice.

Page last reviewed on 26 August 2025