Your assessment period is the monthly period DWP uses to calculate your UC payment. It runs on the same calendar dates every month, and your payment is made 7 days after it ends. You only need to know one of the three dates — the others will fill in automatically.
⚠️ Your period includes dates that don't exist in every month (29th/30th/31st). In shorter months, these dates will shift to the last day of that month.
Entitlements
Standard AllowanceNot set
Are you a single or joint claimant?
⚠️ Please complete Standard Allowance to continue.
Housing ElementNot set
Select what applies to your housing situation:
£
Enter your actual rent, then select how many spare bedrooms you have (if any).
Your monthly rent
£
Spare bedrooms (bedroom tax)
Monthly rent£0.00
Bedroom tax deduction−£0.00
Housing Element£0.00
Are you responsible for a child or qualifying young person?
Additional Allowances
Total Entitlement£0.00
Housing Element
Search your town or city to find your Local Housing Allowance rate.
BRMA Area
Bedroom entitlement
Select the rate you're entitled to — not how many bedrooms your actual home has. The LHA rate is based on your household, not your property. Renting a larger home doesn't increase what UC pays towards it.
You're generally entitled to:
• SAR — single, under 35, no dependants
• 1 bed — single and 35+, or receive PIP Daily Living, or have 1 child
• 2 bed — 2 children, or a couple with 1 child
• 3 bed — 3–4 children, or couples with 2+ children
• 4 bed — 5 or more children
Your LHA Rate
£0.00
per month
Non-Work Deductions
Deductions taken from your UC that are not related to work income — such as sanctions, benefit overpayments, advance repayments, or third-party deductions for things like rent arrears or utilities.
All your entered data will be cleared and you'll need to go through setup again.
🗑️
Last chance!
This cannot be undone. All data will be permanently deleted.
Set Start Date
The other two dates will be filled in automatically.
Remove item?
This cannot be undone.
Add Allowance
Select the allowance that applies, or add a custom amount.
Which LCWRA rate applies?
£429.80 — if you were already receiving LCWRA before April 2026, have a severe condition, or are terminally ill.
£217.26 — new LCWRA claimants from April 2026 who do not meet the above criteria.
If unsure, check your UC journal or award letter.
UC Sanctions
A sanction reduces your UC payment when DWP decides you haven't met your claimant commitment. There are three levels:
Low-level sanction
Reason: Failed to attend or participate in a work-focused interview, or failed to take up a work placement.
Duration: Until you comply, plus up to 7 days after.
Medium-level sanction
Reason: Failed to take up a specific job, failed to meet work search requirements without good reason.
Duration: 4 weeks (first sanction) or 13 weeks (repeat).
High-level sanction
Reason: Left a job voluntarily without good reason, was dismissed for misconduct, refused a job offer, or failed to apply for a specific vacancy.
Duration: 91 days (first), 182 days (second), 1095 days / 3 years (third or more).
The sanction amount is calculated by DWP and shown in your UC journal or award notice. Enter that amount in the deduction field.
Temporary Council Accommodation
What counts as temporary council accommodation?
This means housing arranged directly by your local council because you are homeless or at risk of homelessness — for example, a B&B, hostel, or short-term flat placed by the council. You do not choose or pay the landlord yourself.
It does not include:
• Private renting while on a council waiting list
• Staying with friends or family
• Supported housing arranged by a charity or housing association
Why does this matter for UC?
This only matters if you already qualify for a work allowance — which requires you to either have LCWRA or be responsible for a child. If neither applies to you, this setting makes no difference to your payment.
If you do qualify for a work allowance, temporary council accommodation is treated the same as having a Housing Element — so the lower work allowance rate (£427) applies instead of the higher rate (£710).
Are you entitled to Housing Element?
You may be entitled to a Housing Element if you pay rent — either privately or to a housing association/council.
You will not be entitled if you:
• Own your home (with or without a mortgage)
• Live with a close relative who owns the property
Check your UC journal or award letter — it will show a "Housing Cost Element" if you receive it.
Unable to add
You can only have this allowance on your claim once.
Your Work Allowance
You receive a work allowance because you qualify for one.
The work allowance means the first portion of your work income is not subject to the 55% taper deduction.
What is a qualifying young person?
A qualifying young person is someone aged 16–19 who is either:
• In full-time non-advanced education (e.g. A-levels, T-Levels, NVQs up to Level 3), or
• On an approved training course
You must also be responsible for them — meaning they live with you and you receive (or would be entitled to receive) Child Benefit for them.
Bedroom Entitlement
Shared Accommodation Rate (SAR) applies to single claimants under 35 with no dependants, who are expected to live in shared accommodation.
You may be entitled to the 1 bed rate instead if you:
• Receive the Daily Living component of PIP (either rate)
• Receive DLA at middle or high rate care
• Are 35 or over
• Have dependants living with you
Bedroom Tax
If you rent from a council or housing association and have more bedrooms than you need, your Housing Element is reduced:
• 1 spare bedroom → rent reduced by 14%
• 2 or more spare bedrooms → rent reduced by 25%
You may be exempt if:
• You or your partner are of State Pension age
• You are a foster carer (one extra room allowed)
• You have a severely disabled child who needs their own room
• You need an overnight carer who doesn't live with you
Scotland & Northern Ireland: Bedroom tax is effectively offset — residents do not lose out. Select "None" if this applies to you.