Universal Credit health element: Who’s eligible and how much is it?

If you have a disability or health condition, you may be entitled to the Universal Credit health element. Here we explain how much you could claim, eligibility and how to apply.

At a glance

• What it is: The Universal Credit health element gives extra money if a health condition or disability limits your ability to work.
• Who qualifies: You may be eligible if you meet standard Universal Credit criteria and you’re assessed as having limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA).
• How much you get: The amount varies, but from 2026/27 it’s lower for new claimants (£217.26/month) and higher for some existing or severely ill claimants (£429.80/month).
• How to apply: Apply through Universal Credit, report your condition, provide medical evidence, and complete a Work Capability Assessment (moving to PIP-based assessments in future).

What is Universal Credit?

Universal Credit is a monthly payment you could get if you’re on a low income, out of work or cannot work.

Universal Credit replaced six benefits and tax credits. These are Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

What is the Universal Credit health element?

The Universal Credit health element is a payment designed to provide extra support for individuals with a health condition or disability.

This health element of Universal Credit aims to assist those who may have difficulty working due to health conditions.

The health element of Universal Credit is expected in future to replace the Limited Capability for work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) element of UC.

PIP assessment will be used to assess your entitlement for the health element of Universal Credit from 2028/29.

How much is Universal Credit?

How much Universal Credit you can get depends on:

• the type of standard allowance you are eligible for.
• any extra amounts that you are eligible for.
• any money taken off your payment.
• how much you earn if you’re working.  

Standard Allowance payments 2026/27

You can get one standard allowance for Universal Credit for your household.

How much is Universal Credit standard allowance?	Monthly Payment
If you’re single and under 25	£338.58
If you’re single and 25+	£424.90
If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25	£528.34 (for you both)
If you live with your partner and either of you are 25+	£666.97 (for you both)

Who is eligible for Universal Credit?

You could be eligible for Universal Credit if you are:

• out of work.
• working (including self-employed or part-time).
• unable to work, e.g. because of a health condition.

To claim you must live in the UK, be aged 18 + and under State Pension age and have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments.

Can I get extra money on top of Universal Credit standard allowance?

You could get more money on top of your standard allowance of Universal Credit, if:

• You have a health condition or disability that limits how much work you can do.  
• Or you care for someone who gets a specific benefit.  
• Or you are moving over to Universal Credit from certain legacy benefits. If this is the case, you may be entitled to a transitional protection payment (see bottom of article).
• Or you have children. If you have children, read this article on the childcare element of Universal Credit.

People aged under 22 can currently claim the health element of Universal Credit.

How much is the health element of Universal Credit?

If you are deemed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to have Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA), you may get extra money on top of your standard allowance of Universal Credit (UC).

• Existing LCWRA recipients, and new claimants who are terminally ill or have severe, lifelong conditions and are never expected to work, see their UC standard allowance and health element increase to £429.80 in 2026/27. The amount will increase every year at least in line with inflation from 2026/27 to 2029/30.

• In 2026/27, the extra amount awarded to help people who are sick or disabled – known as the LCWRA/UC health amount – for new claimants fell to £217.26 a month (from £423.27 a month in 2025/26).

This is a reduction of £50 a week for new health‑related claims. The amount is frozen until 2029/30.

If you are part of a couple and your partner already receives an LCWRA payment, you will not receive the extra money.

	Rates 2025/26	Rates 2026/27
Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity amount (Pre-2026 claimant, severe conditions criteria claimant or claimant who is terminally ill)	£423.27	£429.80
Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity amount	£423.27	£217.26

How do I apply for the Universal Credit health element?  

When you apply for Universal Credit, you should inform the DWP if you have a health condition or disability that affects your ‘capability to work’.

This could mean that you:

• need support in work.
• need to find suitable work.
• are unable to work temporarily or long term.

You must report details about your health condition, this includes:

• medical treatments you’re receiving.
• if you’re in or expecting to go into hospital.
• changes to your health condition, for example it gets better or worse. 
• a new health condition.

You must get a fit note/ sick note, if your health condition or disability affects your ability to work for longer than 7 days. 

What is Work Capability Assessment? 

If your health condition or disability affects your capability to work for longer than 28 days, you currently need to have a Work Capability Assessment.

The assessment is to help decide how much your health condition or disability limits your capability to work.

It can be in person, by video call or on the phone. Before your assessment, you’ll need to complete a ‘Capability for Work’ (UC50) health questionnaire.

However, the work capability assessment is expected to be abolished in 2028.

This means that if you need an assessment for the health element of Universal Credit, you will in future have a PIP assessment.

What happens after an assessment?

After a Work Capacity Assessment, you’ll currently be sent a decision that states if you:

• are fit for work (also known as ‘capable for work’).
• Or need to prepare to work in the future, but have limited capability for work (LCW).
• Or have limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA).

The decision affects whether you’ll get the extra amount of Universal Credit.

– If it is decided you are fit to work

You’ll need to agree to look for work that is suitable for your health condition/disability.

You’ll get the standard allowance of Universal Credit based on your circumstances.

– Limited Capability for Work (LCW) and need to prepare to work in future

You have limited capability for work now. You can work if you feel able to do so.

Your work coach will agree next steps to help you start preparing for work eg. CV preparation.

– If it’s decided you have Limited Capability for work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA)

You do not need to look for work or prepare for work.

It is possible, you can get an extra money on top of your Universal Credit standard allowance.

Can I claim the Universal Credit health element if I’m working?   

You may still get Universal Credit if you work. 

You can earn up to a certain amount without it affecting the amount of Universal Credit you get. This is called a ‘work allowance’.

You can use a benefits calculator to find out how working affects your Universal Credit benefit.

Extra Universal Credit, if you’re near end of life

If you are near the end of your life, you might get Universal Credit quicker and at a higher rate.

This is known as ‘special rules for end of life’.

You could be eligible for this extra money if: 

• you’re aged 16+ but under State Pension age.
• you live in the UK.
• you have £16,000 or less in money, savings and investments.
• your doctor or medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live e.g. due to a life-limiting illness.

You can ask a medical professional to support your claim by requesting a SR1 form. They’ll either complete it and give the form to you or send it directly to the DWP.

Universal Credit Reductions

How much you get in Universal Credit may be reduced if you:

• have been overpaid benefits in the past.
• owe money for Council Tax, court fines, electricity, gas, water or child maintenance.
• pay your gas or electricity bill directly from your Universal Credit payment.
• have a paid job.
• have other income – e.g. money from pensions or other benefits.
• have more than £6,000 in money, savings and investments.   
• are above the amount limited by the benefit cap.

What is a Universal Credit Transitional Protection Payment?

Following the government’s phasing out of certain benefits, you could be entitled to a Universal Credit Transitional Protection Payment (TPP) – also known as the ‘transitional element’ of Universal Credit.

This is an extra payment designed to prevent you from getting less money when you transition from a legacy benefit to Universal Credit. It is a temporary payment.

It ends if your circumstances change or your Universal Credit entitlement rises to the same or higher level as your previous benefits.

How much is a Universal Credit Transitional Protection Payment?  

The TPP is the difference between the Universal Credit award and your legacy benefit amount.

For example:

• If you were entitled to £800 on your legacy benefit and your Universal Credit entitlement is £600.
• Your transitional protection payment becomes £200.
• As a result, your total Universal Credit entitlement is now £800.

Most people will get TPP automatically, but some people must apply for it.

If you receive a Migration Notice, you must move to Universal Credit by the deadline stated in your letter to keep getting financial support.

If you received this letter and wish to discuss it, call the Universal Credit Migration Notice Helpline on 0800 169 0328.

FAQs