See below for more details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NOTE: You may be entitled to one or more of the other Elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Child Element<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\nIf you are responsible for a child (or children)^ who normally lives with you, you may qualify for one or more Child Elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have children, then check your Universal Credit award carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You are entitled to a Child Element for each child who normally lives you. So make sure your award includes a Child Element for every child you are entitled to receive help for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are concerned that the Child Element\/s included in your Universal Credit assessment may be wrong, contact a Benefits Adviser for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
^ This includes most children up to the 1st September after their 19th birthday, if they are in full-time (12 hours a week), non-advanced education or ‘approved training’. The DWP call these ‘qualifying young people’.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iStock-1084853878-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\nNumber of children<\/strong><\/td>Monthly Child Element<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>For your first child<\/td> \u00a3351.88 (born before 6th<\/sup> April 2017)
\u00a3303.94 (born on or after 6th<\/sup> April 2017)<\/td><\/tr>For your second child<\/td> \u00a3303.94<\/td><\/tr> For your third plus child<\/td> \u00a3303.94<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\nExample:<\/strong>
Rob and Sandy have one son aged 8. Their Maximum Universal Credit will include a Child Element of \u00a3351.88.<\/p>\n\n\n\nExample:<\/strong>
Tia is a lone parent with three children aged 13, 10 and 9. Her Maximum Universal Credit will include three Child Elements, i.e. \u00a3351.88 + \u00a3303.94 + \u00a3303.94, totalling \u00a3959.76.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you have a disabled child<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You may get extra money if you are responsible for a child or young person who is disabled and gets Disability Living Allowance\/Child Disability Payment or Personal Independence Payment\/Adult Disability Payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This Disabled Child Element is paid at either a higher rate or a lower rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To qualify for the lower rate your child must be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Entitled to Disability Living Allowance\/Child Disability Payment, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Entitled to Personal Independence Payment\/Adult Disability Payment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
To qualify for the higher rate your child must be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Entitled to the higher care component of Disability Living Allowance\/Child Disability Payment<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Entitled to the enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment\/Adult Disability Payment, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Registered blind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n\nRate<\/strong><\/td>\nMonthly Disabled Child Element<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n\nLower rate<\/td>\n \u00a3164.79 per child<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \nHigher rate<\/td>\n \u00a3514.71 per child<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\nExample:<\/strong>
Raheem and Zoe have two children age 16 and 13. Their youngest child receives mid rate care Disability Living Allowance. Their Maximum Universal Credit award will include two Child Elements a total of \u00a3655.82 and also a Disabled Child Element of \u00a3164.79.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIMPORTANT<\/strong>: If one of your children is awarded Disability Living Allowance\/Child Disability Payment or Personal Independence Payment \/Adult Disability Payment inform the DWP as soon as possible. The extra Disabled Child Element should be included in your UC award back to the Assessment Period in which the DLA\/CDP or PIP\/ADP award started \u2013 make sure you do receive this back payment of UC. If you think the DWP have not assessed this or they are refusing to give you this back payment, contact a Benefit Adviser for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHelp with Childcare Costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you are a working parent, Universal Credit can help you with the costs of childcare no matter how many hours you work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It helps with formal childcare costs for a child up to 1st September after their 16th birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can claim childcare costs if you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Are in paid work, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Are starting paid work in the next month, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Left a job less than a month ago, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Are on sick leave, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Are on any kind of parental leave.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re living with your partner you\u2019ll both need to be working to get childcare costs \u2013 unless your partner can\u2019t provide childcare because they:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are responsible for a child (or children)^ who normally lives with you, you may qualify for one or more Child Elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have children, then check your Universal Credit award carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You are entitled to a Child Element for each child who normally lives you. So make sure your award includes a Child Element for every child you are entitled to receive help for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are concerned that the Child Element\/s included in your Universal Credit assessment may be wrong, contact a Benefits Adviser for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
^ This includes most children up to the 1st September after their 19th birthday, if they are in full-time (12 hours a week), non-advanced education or ‘approved training’. The DWP call these ‘qualifying young people’.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> Example:<\/strong> You may get extra money if you are responsible for a child or young person who is disabled and gets Disability Living Allowance\/Child Disability Payment or Personal Independence Payment\/Adult Disability Payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Disabled Child Element is paid at either a higher rate or a lower rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To qualify for the lower rate your child must be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To qualify for the higher rate your child must be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example:<\/strong> IMPORTANT<\/strong>: If one of your children is awarded Disability Living Allowance\/Child Disability Payment or Personal Independence Payment \/Adult Disability Payment inform the DWP as soon as possible. The extra Disabled Child Element should be included in your UC award back to the Assessment Period in which the DLA\/CDP or PIP\/ADP award started \u2013 make sure you do receive this back payment of UC. If you think the DWP have not assessed this or they are refusing to give you this back payment, contact a Benefit Adviser for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are a working parent, Universal Credit can help you with the costs of childcare no matter how many hours you work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It helps with formal childcare costs for a child up to 1st September after their 16th birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can claim childcare costs if you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re living with your partner you\u2019ll both need to be working to get childcare costs \u2013 unless your partner can\u2019t provide childcare because they:<\/p>\n\n\n\nNumber of children<\/strong><\/td> Monthly Child Element<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead> For your first child<\/td> \u00a3351.88 (born before 6th<\/sup> April 2017)
\u00a3303.94 (born on or after 6th<\/sup> April 2017)<\/td><\/tr>For your second child<\/td> \u00a3303.94<\/td><\/tr> For your third plus child<\/td> \u00a3303.94<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Rob and Sandy have one son aged 8. Their Maximum Universal Credit will include a Child Element of \u00a3351.88.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tia is a lone parent with three children aged 13, 10 and 9. Her Maximum Universal Credit will include three Child Elements, i.e. \u00a3351.88 + \u00a3303.94 + \u00a3303.94, totalling \u00a3959.76.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nIf you have a disabled child<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n\n
\n Rate<\/strong><\/td>\n Monthly Disabled Child Element<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n\n \n Lower rate<\/td>\n \u00a3164.79 per child<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Higher rate<\/td>\n \u00a3514.71 per child<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Raheem and Zoe have two children age 16 and 13. Their youngest child receives mid rate care Disability Living Allowance. Their Maximum Universal Credit award will include two Child Elements a total of \u00a3655.82 and also a Disabled Child Element of \u00a3164.79.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nHelp with Childcare Costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n