Where our figures come from
We only use official sources and well-known advice organisations:
- The law itself: the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 and the Finance Act 2004.
- DWP and GOV.UK: the yearly benefit and pension rates, GOV.UK guidance, and the guidance DWP gives its own decision makers.
- Advice organisations: the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group, the Child Poverty Action Group, Citizens Advice, Shelter and Turn2us.
- Tribunal decisions that explain how the rules work in practice.
Every guide lists its sources at the bottom of the page, so you can check them yourself.
When we check
- Every April, when the new UC rates start. We update every calculator, guide and the rates page.
- When a rule changes during the year.
- When someone tells us something looks wrong.
Every page shows the date it was last checked.
How the calculators are tested
- We check each calculator against worked examples by hand, and against examples published by DWP and advice organisations.
- We test them on phones and computers before they go live.
- They work entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or anyone else.
- They give estimates. Your Universal Credit statement is always the final word on what you're paid.
Who writes it
The guides are written by someone who has worked while claiming Universal Credit, and has used these rules on their own claim. That includes reporting pension payments every month, and dealing with DWP when things went wrong.
How we use AI
We use AI tools to help draft pages and build the calculators. A person decides what goes on the site, and every figure and rule is checked against the sources above before it's published. If something's wrong, that's our responsibility, so please tell us.
Independent
- We're not part of, or connected to, DWP, HMRC or GOV.UK.
- We don't recommend pension companies or products, and we don't take money from them.
- Nothing here is financial or benefits advice. For advice about your own claim, Citizens Advice and Turn2us can help for free.
Spotted a mistake?
Please email [email protected]. Tell us which page, and what looks wrong. We check every report, correct mistakes as soon as we've confirmed them, and update the "last checked" date.