Universal Credit is a means tested benefit – so it’s all down to the claimant’s personal circumstances and income.
NOTE: when it’s a couple claim – ‘claimant’ refers to both members of the couple.
NOTE: The illustrative examples below are based on the figures for 2023/24.
The Calculation
As UC is a means tested benefit, the first stage of the calculation is to work out the ‘Maximum UC’ the claimant could be entitled to: this represents the minimum level of income the government feels they need given their personal circumstances.
The ‘Maximum UC’ includes: amounts for household members (themselves and any dependent children); Elements for specific situations (e.g. carer, disabled child, limited capability for work/work related activity, child care costs); and a Housing Costs Element if the claimant is liable to pay rent.
All of the Elements to which the claimant is entitled are added together to work out what their ‘Maximum UC’ will be. This is then reduced by any earnings and/or assessable unearned income the claimant has, until the income is high enough to mean there is no entitlement left.
This means that the higher a claimant’s Maximum UC amount, the more they can earn and still have an entitlement.
Whilst on UC, this assessment is made every month, based on the claimant’s circumstances at the end of their Monthly Assessment Period (MAP).
Do earnings reduce the award £1 for £1?
No. The DWP will take account of the net wages (gross wage less tax, NI and pension contributions) received during the claimant’s Monthly Assessment Period (MAP). These will reduce the claimant’s ‘Maximum UC’ by 55p for each £1 above the claimant’s applicable ‘work allowance’ (earnings disregard).
A claimant is eligible for a ‘work allowance’ if they are responsible for children who live with them, or if they (or their partner) have been found to have, or are treated as having, a limited capability for work or work related activity.
There are two levels of ‘work allowance’: the lower level is for those claimants who qualify and whose ‘Maximum UC’ includes a Housing Costs Element (£379); the higher level is for claimants whose ‘Maximum UC’ doesn’t include a Housing Costs Element (£631): this takes into account the fact that they may have a mortgage to pay.
So how much can someone earn?
That all depends on their ‘Maximum UC’ and whether or not they qualify for a ‘work allowance’.
See the table below for examples.
So how much someone can earn varies very much according to their circumstances - the best thing is to use one of the free UC calculators that are available online or contact a benefits adviser.
How to work out the maximum someone can earn (net) and still be entitled to UC
You can use the following formulas
No unearned income, entitled to a work allowance:
Maximum UC divided by 55, multiplied by 100, plus any work allowance.
No unearned income, not entitled to a work allowance:
Maximum UC divided by 55, multiplied by 100.
Unearned income, entitled to a work allowance:
(Maximum UC – unearned income monthly figure) divided by 55, multiplied by 100, plus any work allowance.
Unearned income, not entitled to a work allowance:
(Maximum UC – unearned income monthly figure) divided by 55, multiplied by 100.