The benefit cap is a limit on the total amount of working age benefits that you can receive. If your universal credit is over the amount of your benefit cap, it might be reduced.

Universal credit is a monthly award and payments are generally made monthly.  In Northern Ireland, payments are usually made twice monthly. There are a number of alternative payment options available depending on your circumstances.

This part of the website explains how universal credit works if you are self-employed.

Your pay as an employee will usually affect the amount of your universal credit award. In most cases, information about your pay (as an employee) will be sent to DWP and DfC automatically from HMRC and this page looks at how that information is used and in which assessment period.

Universal credit awards are made up of a number of different elements. The elements that are included in your award depend on your circumstances (and your partner’s circumstances if it is a joint claim).

Your income, or both claimants’ combined income in joint claims and certain single claims, can affect how much your universal credit award is. Some income is taken into account in full when calculating your universal credit award, some it taken into account but tapered and some types of income are ...