How many hours can you work and still get Universal Credit?

There isn’t a limit to the number of hours you can work and still be eligible for Universal Credit. Instead, your eligibility is largely determined by whether you have less than £16,000 in money, savings and investments.

Will I get a cost of living payment if I’m on Universal Credit?

You could be eligible for the £900 cost of living payment - split across three separate payments of £301, £300 and £299 - if you receive a means-tested benefit such as Universal Credit during the relevant qualifying periods.

How much Universal Credit will I get if I earn £1,000 a month?

The amount of Universal Credit you’ll get if you earn £1,000 a month depends on your personal circumstances. For example, if you’re single and are aged over 25, you could be eligible for up to £368.74 of Universal Credit each month.

Universal Credit Rates 2024 | What You’re Eligible For

This article was reviewed by Sara Chapin, Director of Finance at Lottie, on 26th November 2024, to ensure accurate and trustworthy information for care seekers. Sara Chapin has been a Certified Public Accountant with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy since 2017. Next review due November 2025.

Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit to help people with living costs who are either on a low income, out of work or unable to work (including carers). Universal Credit rates rose by 6.7% in line with inflation on 8th April 2024, along with other benefits like Personal Independence Payment and Carer’s Allowance.

The average person who is single and aged over 25 on Universal Credit will now receive an extra £405.96 between April 2024 and March 2025. The benefit cap has also risen, so you can receive more in total.

Here, we’ve highlighted the Universal Credit rates for 2024/2025, along with how much they’ve increased, how much they’ll increase in April 2025, whether you’re eligible, how to apply and how you’ll be paid.

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Universal Credit Rates For 2024/2025

Universal Credit is a single payment, comprised of smaller amounts. How much you get depends on your personal circumstances, such as your earnings (if you’re working), your partner’s earnings (if they’re working) and any other income your household earns.

The 2024/2025 Universal Credit basic standard rate for adults over 25 is now £393.45 per month for singles and £617.60 per month for couples.

If you’re under 25, this benefit is now worth £311.68 per month for singles and £489.23 per month for couples.

Below, we’ve listed all the Universal Credit rates for 2024/2025, along with how much they’ve increased.

Universal Credit standard allowance

Your Circumstances	Monthly Standard Allowance 2024/2025	Monthly Standard Allowance 2023/2024	Increase
You’re single and under 25	£311.68	£292.11	£19.57
You’re single and 25 or over	£393.45	£368.74	£24.71
You’re in a couple and are both under 25	£489.23	£458.51	£30.72
You’re in a couple and one or both of you are 25 or over	£617.60	£578.82	£38.78

Child amounts

If you’re responsible for a child (or children) who usually live with you.

Number Of Children	Extra Monthly Amount 2024/2025	Extra Monthly Amount 2023/2024	Increase
First child (born before the 6th of April 2017)	£333.33	£315.00	£18.33
First child (born on or after the 6th April 2017	£287.92	£269.58	£18.34
Second child	£287.92	£269.58	£18.34

Disabled child additions

You may receive extra if your dependent child is disabled. Whether you qualify for the higher or lower rate depends on which benefits your child is entitled to.

Rate	Extra Monthly Amount 2024/2025	Extra Monthly Amount 2023/2024	Increase
Higher rate	£487.58	£456.89	£30.69
Lower rate	£156.11	£146.31	£9.80

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Childcare costs

Universal Credit can also help you with the cost of childcare, regardless of how many hours you work.

Number Of Children	Extra Monthly Amount 2024/2025	Extra Monthly Amount 2023/2024	Increase
One child	Maximum of £1,014.63	Maximum of £950.92	£63.71
Two or more children	Maximum of £1,739.37	Maximum of £1,630.15	£109.22

Limited Capability for Work

If you have a medical condition or illness that prevents you from working, but you may be able to work in the future.

There’s also a separate amount if you’ve been assessed as having a ‘limited capability for work and work-related activity’.

Your Circumstances	Extra monthly amount 2024/2025	Extra monthly amount 2023/2024	Increase
If you were assessed as having a ‘limited capability for work’	£156.11	£146.31	£9.80
If you were assessed as having a ‘limited capability for work and work-related activity’	£416.19	£390.06	£26.31

Carer amount

You’re eligible for the carer’s element of Universal Credit if you provide at least 35 hours of unpaid care per week for somebody who receives a disability benefit, such as Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (the middle or highest rate) or Personal Independence Payment (the daily living component).

You don’t have to claim Carer’s Allowance to be eligible for this element.

Monthly Rate 2024/2025	Monthly Rate 2023/2024	Increase
£198.31	£185.86	£12.45

Non-dependants housing cost contributions

A housing cost contribution is deducted from the housing costs element of Universal Credit when a non-dependant lives with somebody who claims Universal Credit.

Monthly Rate 2024/2025	Monthly Rate 2023/2024	Increase
£91.47	£85.73	£5.74

Work allowances

This is an amount you can earn before your Universal Credit payment is affected. You’ll be eligible if you (and/or your partner) are responsible for a child, or have a ‘limited capability for work’.

Your Circumstances	Monthly Rate 2024/2025	Monthly Rate 2023/2024	Increase
Higher work allowance (no housing amount) with one or more dependent children or a limited capability for work	£673.00	£631.00	£42.00
Lower work allowance with one or more dependent children or a limited capability for work	£404.00	£379.00	£25.00

How Much Have Universal Credit Rates Increased In 2024?

In April 2024, Universal Credit rose by 6.7%, in line with inflation. This increase applied to all means-tested benefits from HMRC and the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions).

This resulted in the following increases to the standard allowance Universal Credit rates per month and year for 2024:

If you’re single and under 25 = £19.57 monthly and £234.80 annually
If you’re single and 25 or over = £24.71 monthly and £296.52 annually
If you’re in a couple and are both under 25 = £30.72 monthly and £368.64 annually
If you’re in a couple and one or both of you are 25 or over = £38.78 monthly and £465.36 annually

How Much Will Universal Credit Rates Increase In 2025?

Universal Credit rates have been confirmed to increase by a further 1.7% in April 2025. This means that from the 7th of April 2025, the standard rate of Universal Credit will increase to the following amounts, depending on your personal circumstances:

If you’re single and under 25 = £400.14 per week (+£6.69)
If you’re single and 25 or over = £316.98 per week (+£5.30)
If you’re in a couple and are both under 25 = £497.55 per week (+£8.32)
If you’re in a couple and one or both of you are 25 or over = £628.10 per week (+£10.50)

Are You Eligible For Universal Credit?

Universal Credit is aimed at people on a low income, along with those who need some extra help with the cost of living. You may be:

Unemployed
Unable to work because of a medical condition, illness or disability
Working (including self-employed and part-time work)
An unpaid carer

To be eligible for Universal Credit, you must:

Live in the UK
Be aged 18 or over (there are certain exceptions for people aged 16 or 17)
Be under the State Pension age
Have £16,000 or less (including any savings and investments you have)

Universal Credit is gradually the following benefits:

Child Tax Credit
Housing Benefit
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Working Tax Credit

You’ll stop receiving these benefits once you or your partner claims Universal Credit. Similarly, if you or your partner receive Pension Credit, this will also end if either of you claims Universal Credit.

How To Apply For Universal Credit

You can either apply for Universal Credit online or by calling the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

To claim Universal Credit online, you’ll need to make an account. Once this account has been made, you’ll have 28 days to complete your claim, otherwise, you’ll have to start over.

If you live with a partner, you’ll both need to create accounts, which can then be linked together when claiming.

When applying online, you’ll need to provide an email address, a phone number and the details of your bank or building society account. You’ll also need to prove your identity, such as with a driving licence or passport.

You may be required to have an appointment with the Universal Credit team to complete your claim (this will either be in person or over the phone).

How Is Universal Credit Paid?

Universal Credit payments are made on the same day each month. If it falls on a weekend, you’ll be paid the previous working day. It usually goes directly into your bank or building society account.

If you don’t have a bank or building society account and are unable to open one, you should call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.

Normally, you’ll have to wait around five weeks to get your first payment. You can apply for an advance on this first payment if you need money in the meantime.

You can check how much you’re due to be paid and when through your online account.

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