You can earn a certain amount before your Universal Credit payment starts to reduce, this is called the "work allowance." The work allowance depends on your circumstances:
- If you are responsible for a child or young person, or have a disability or health condition affecting your ability to work, and you get help with housing costs, your work allowance is £411 per month.
- If you do not get help with housing costs, your work allowance is £684 per month.
Above your work allowance, your Universal Credit payment will reduce by 55p for every £1 you earn. If you don't have a work allowance (for example, if you don't have children or a health condition), then every £1 you earn reduces your Universal Credit by 55p from the first pound. So, how much you can earn before your Universal Credit starts to reduce depends on whether you qualify for a work allowance and if you get help with housing costs. There is no fixed "cut-off" amount because the payment gradually reduces as your earnings increase.
