Check the statement for different UC elements

Universal credit is made up of different elements that a claimant can qualify for depending on their circumstances.

A universal credit statement sets out the elements of universal credit the department for work and pensions (DWP) believe the claimant is entitled to, just below the overall payment figure and assessment period dates at the top of the statement.

Example UC statement

In this example the DWP agreed to pay the claimant:

• a standard allowance for a single person

• a housing costs element for social housing (reduced as the claimant has a spare bedroom)

• a limited capability for work and work-related activities element.

Adding up to a total entitlement of £1,165.94 before non-housing deductions are applied.

Standard allowance

The standard allowance is a sum of money intended to cover the claimant's basic living costs.

The standard allowance is always a fixed amount that depends on:

• the claimant's age

• whether they are claiming as a single person or as part of a couple

From 7 April 2025 to 6 April 2026 the standard allowance is:

• £316.98 per month for a single person under the age of 25

• £400.14 per month for a single person age 25 and over

• £497.55 per month for a couple both under the age of 25

• £628.10 per month for a couple with at least one person age 25 or over

A claimant always has a standard allowance added to their claim. It forms the basis of every universal credit award and it is not possible to receive other elements without first qualifying for a standard allowance.

Child element

A claimant who is responsible for at least one child may get an additional element for those children. Your client will usually be considered responsible for a child if they normally live with them.

In most cases a claimant will get £292.81 each for their first 2 children.

They may get more if their eldest child was born before 6 April 2017. In such cases, they get £339.00 for the first child.

Due to the "two child cap" additional children beyond the first two do not result in any additional amount being granted unless an exception applies. The exceptions to the two child cap can get quite complex. The DWP provides more information on when a claimant may qualify for a child element on a third or subsequent child here: Universal Credit: support for a maximum of 2 children: information for claimants - GOV.UK

The government has announced plans to abolish the two child benefit cap from April 2026.

Where a child has a disability, an additional amount can be granted. This additional amount is not limited by the two child cap, and can be granted even if your client doesn't get the normal child element for that child. The amount for each qualifying child is:

• £158.76 if the child is entitled to a personal independence payment (PIP), disability living allowance (DLA)

• £495.87 if the child is entitled to the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP, or the highest rate care component of DLA, or if they are certified as severely sight impaired or blind.

Childcare Element

Where a single client is in paid work (or has an offer of work) and is responsible for at least one child they may have a portion of their childcare costs paid for by universal credit.

This element will cover 85% of childcare costs to a maximum of £1031.68 (1 child) or £1768.94 (2 or more children).

Limited Capability for Work Related Activities

A claimant assessed as having limited capability for work and work related activities can qualify for this element.

The rate for the 2025/26 financial year is £423.27 per month.

When a claimant first qualifies for this element, they normally have to wait 3 months before it starts being paid. The 3 months is measured from when they first provided a fit note or medical certificate to the DWP. There are exceptions to this rule and you should seek specialist benefits advice if your client is applying for this element.

Limited Capability for Work

In older claims a claimant assessed as having a limited capability for work, but not work related activities, could qualify for this element.

This element has been mostly phased out of modern claims, but some claimants can still receive this element if they or their partner have had limited capability for work since before 3 April 2017 and they have either:

• been claiming UC since before the cut-off date

• been claiming an older benefit or credit such as ESA, and then migrated to UC

For the few cases still claiming it, the rate for the 2025/26 financial year is £158.76 per month.

Carer Element

A claimant can get a carer element as part of their universal credit if they have 'regular and substantial' caring responsibilities for a severely disabled person.

The rate for the 2025/26 financial year is £201.68 per month.

Transitional Element

A claimant who was previously receiving legacy benefits or tax credits under the old systems that were replaced by universal credit and went through a 'managed migration' to claim UC can receive an additional transitional element designed to make up for the benefits they lost.

Legacy benefits and tax credits include income based jobseekers allowance, income based employment and support allowance, income support, working age housing benefit (except for temporary and supported accommodation), child tax credit and working tax credit.

The transitional element is complex to calculate. Claimants who might qualify for this element should be signposted to specialist benefits advice.

Housing Costs Element

The housing costs element is awarded to help pay rent and certain service charges.

Find out more about how the housing costs element is calculated in Shelter's guide to the housing costs element of universal credit.

A claimant can generally qualify for a housing element if they:

• pay rent for accommodation

• are legally liable to pay that rent under a commercial agreement

• live in the accommodation as their principal home

Clients who do not fit these conditions but still need help with housing costs should be referred to specialist benefits advice, as all of these conditions have exceptions. For example, a client who needs to claim UC to pay a rent when they live in a property but are not the tenant on the agreement, or a client who is temporarily absent from the property, can still potentially qualify.

The housing element is not a fixed amount of money. It is calculated differently depending on:

• whether the claimant is renting private or social housing

• how many bedrooms the claimant is entitled to based on their household size

• the area of the country they live in

There are a few unique deductions that only apply to the housing element including:

• bedroom tax for social tenants

• deductions for non-dependents

Non-dependents are adults who live with the claimant who are expected to make contributions to the housing costs.

Find out more about how universal credit housing element is calculated on Shelter's website.

Shelter Legal provides a more detailed breakdown of the legislation governing how the housing element is calculated aimed at professional advisers.

More information

The DWP provides a guide that summarises the individual elements of UC in the Universal Credit: What you'll get page on the government website.

Guidance for professionals

A full, technical breakdown of different benefit and pension rates across the board can be found on the page on benefit and pension rates 2025 to 2026 on the government website.

Find out more about transitional protection for universal credit claimants on Shelter Legal.