Universal Credit: UC payments set for above-inflation increase in April 2026 – how much will UK claimants get?
A new law is reshaping how UC benefits are uprated, boosting the main payment for many households 👀
- Universal Credit payments are set to rise from April 2026, with the standard allowance increasing by about 6.2%
- The rise goes above inflation, combining the usual annual uplift with an extra boost written into law
- The increase is driven by the Universal Credit Act 2025, which guarantees higher rises through to 2030
- Most claimants will get around £20–£40 more per month, depending on age and household
- Some health-related UC elements will be cut for new claimants, despite the higher basic rate
Millions of people receiving Universal Credit (UC) in the UK will soon see an increase in their payments.
From 6 April 2026, the core part of Universal Credit (known as the standard allowance) is set to increase by about 6.2% above current rates.
This is an above‑inflation rise, blending the predicted annual inflation‑linked increase with an extra uplift guaranteed in law under the a new Parliamentary Act. Here is everything you need to know about it...
How much is Universal Credit increasing?
In the UK, benefit rates including Universal Credit are typically uprated once a year in April, when many government policies and budgets take effect.
Traditionally, this uprating is based on inflation, specifically the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) recorded in the previous September, meaning that when inflation goes up, benefit rates usually rise by the same amount.
For example, if CPI inflation in the previous September is 3.8% (as it was in 2025), benefits would normally also rise roughly 3.8%. This is intended to help maintain the real‑terms value of support in the face of rising prices.
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But in 2026, rather than just matching inflation, the UC standard allowance will be boosted by an extra statutory uplift of around 2.3%, resulting in an overall increase near 6.2%.
That extra boost is the direct result of the Universal Credit Act 2025, a new law designed to change how Universal Credit is uprated over several years.
What is the ‘Universal Credit Act’?
The Universal Credit Act 2025 is a law passed by the Labour Government that changes how Universal Credit payments are increased each year.
Before the Act, payments were usually raised once a year in line with inflation, to help keep up with rising prices, but the new law guarantees bigger increases for the main part of Universal Credit, so people who rely on it get a bit more money in real terms.
It guarantees above‑inflation increases to the standard Universal Credit allowance through to April 2030.
Under the Act, for each tax year from April 2026 to April 2030, the standard allowance will be uprated by CPI, plus a fixed percentage written directly into law:
- CPI inflation + 2.3% in 2026–27
- CPI inflation + 3.1% in 2027–28
- CPI inflation + 4.0% in 2028–29
- CPI inflation + 4.8% in 2029–30
How much more will I be paid through Universal Credit?
Here’s how the monthly standard rates will look roughly under the new levels:
- Single, under 25: from about £317 → £338 per month
- Single, 25 or over: from about £400 → £424 per month
- Couple (both under 25): from about £498 → £528 per month
- Couple (one or both 25+): from about £628 → £667 per month
That’s an increase of around £20–£40 a month depending on your age and household situation.
These figures relate to the standard Universal Credit allowance, which is the base sum everyone receives before other elements like childcare, housing support, or disability elements are added.
Are any elements going down?
The standard allowance may be increasing, but certain additional UC parts, like the health‑related element known as the Limited Capability for Work and Work‑Related Activity (LCWRA), are being cut sharply for new claimants.
For existing recipients before that date, the higher health element will be protected and frozen, but new claims after April 2026 will attract a much lower rate.
This cut does not apply to everybody, but it’s a major change for people who would usually be entitled to that extra support.
To check how much you’re owed through Universal Credit, log in to your online UC account and view your payment schedule or award calculation, which shows your next payment and any adjustments.
You can also check your journal for messages from the DWP about changes or back payments. Alternatively, you can call the UC helpline or use an online benefits calculator to estimate your entitlement.