Benefit Calculator
Benefit calculator works out Estimated award and Eligibility from Programme, Maximum award for your circumstances (per assessment period) and Earnings in the assessment period. The default figures on this page give estimated award of 1,000.00; change any entry and the result, the working and the sources update together.
Your figures
Updates as you typeHow this is worked out
4 steps
- Universal Credit Regulations 2013 regs 18, 22 and 72: 55% taper above the work allowance, tariff income of 4.35 a month per 250 (or part) of capital over 6,000, and no entitlement above 16,000 of capital.
- Earnings above the disregard = max(0, 0 - 0) = 0.
- Taper = 55% x 0 = 0.
- Award = max(0, 1000 - 0 of income deducted in full - 0 of taper) = 1000.
Its 4 worked examples are re-run on every release, last on 15 September 2026. What changed
Sources and references
4 sources
What the benefit calculator calculates
Estimates a means-tested benefit award from the maximum award for your circumstances, income above a disregard reduced by a taper rate, unearned income deducted in full, and assumed income from capital.
How to use this benefit calculator
Enter Programme, Maximum award for your circumstances (per assessment period), Earnings in the assessment period and Disregard / work allowance. Estimated award updates as you type, and “Use a worked example” loads checked figures you can adjust. Change one figure at a time to see what drives the result.
How the result is worked out
Open “How this is worked out” beside the result for the step-by-step calculation behind Estimated award, Eligibility and Earnings above the disregard.
The method follows The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/376), regulation 22 - deduction of income and work allowance: 55% of earned income above the work allowance, and all unearned income, The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/376), regulation 72 - assumed yield from capital: GBP 4.35 a month for each GBP 250, or part of GBP 250, above GBP 6,000, The Universal Credit Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/376), regulation 18 - capital limit of GBP 16,000 and 7 CFR 273.10(e) - SNAP allotment: the maximum allotment for the household size less 30 percent of net monthly income.
Universal Credit: 55% taper above a work allowance example
With Programme: uk-universal-credit, Maximum award for your circumstances (per assessment period): 1000, Earnings in the assessment period: 1200, Disregard / work allowance: 411, the calculator returns Estimated award: 566.05, Earnings above the disregard: 789, Reduction from earnings: 433.95. This example is checked against an independent source in the test suite.
What you can compare
Change one input at a time to see how it affects Estimated award, Eligibility and Earnings above the disregard. The inputs you can vary are Programme, Maximum award for your circumstances (per assessment period), Earnings in the assessment period, Disregard / work allowance, Taper rate and Other income (deducted in full).
Understanding Estimated award, Eligibility and Earnings above the disregard
An arithmetic estimate of a taper, not a benefit decision. It does not test eligibility, household composition, immigration status, capital disregards or transitional protection, and it uses only the rates you enter. Check any figure with the paying authority or an accredited adviser before relying on it.
Results are general information, not financial, tax, legal, medical or engineering advice. Check any decision that matters with a qualified professional.
See something wrong? Report a problem with this calculator
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much my benefits are worth?
Estimates a means-tested benefit award from the maximum award for your circumstances, income above a disregard reduced by a taper rate, unearned income deducted in full, and assumed income from capital. Open “How this is worked out” beside the result to see each step for your own figures.
What information do I need for the benefit calculator?
You need Programme, Maximum award for your circumstances (per assessment period), Earnings in the assessment period, Disregard / work allowance, Taper rate, Other income (deducted in full), Savings and capital and Capital disregarded below. The page opens with default figures that give estimated award of 1,000.00, so you can see the scale before entering your own.
What does this benefit calculator show?
It shows Estimated award, Eligibility, Earnings above the disregard, Reduction from earnings, Assumed income from capital, Reduction from other income, Total reduction and Earnings at which the award reaches zero, with the working and any warnings for your entries.
Can I check how the benefit calculator result was calculated?
Yes. The “How this is worked out” section shows the calculation steps, and the sources section identifies the references used for the method.