Your Universal Credit can now include a payment for every child
Key points
- From 6 April 2026, Universal Credit includes a child element for every child in your household — the old two-child cap no longer applies.
- If you already claim Universal Credit, DWP updates your award automatically — you do not need to apply or call anyone.
- The child element is worth around £304 a month per child in 2026/27, so a family with a third child could be around £3,650 better off each year.
From 6 April 2026, the two-child limit on Universal Credit was removed. You can now receive a child element for every child in your household — not just the first two.
If you have three or more children and you claim Universal Credit, your monthly payment should now be higher. For most families, the change happens automatically.
What changed
Universal Credit pays a "child element" — an extra amount added to your monthly payment for each child you are responsible for. Before 6 April 2026, this only applied to your first two children. If you had a third or fourth child, you received nothing extra for them.
That rule has now ended. From 6 April 2026, you receive a child element for every child.
How much is the child element?
In 2026/27, the child element is worth:
- £351.88 a month for your oldest child, if they were born before 6 April 2017
- £303.94 a month for each other child
A third child adds around £304 a month to your Universal Credit. That works out to about £3,650 extra each year.
If you have a third and a fourth child, your payment could rise by over £600 a month.
Search for your next property on DSSmove →Do you need to do anything?
No. If you already claim Universal Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) updates your award automatically. You do not need to call anyone, report a change, or fill in extra forms.
Your new payment amount will appear in your Universal Credit journal. Most families see the change in their May or June 2026 payment, depending on when your assessment period starts.
If you are not yet on Universal Credit and you have three or more children, you may be able to make a new claim. Use the Turn2us benefits calculator to check what you could get before you apply.
What about Child Tax Credit?
Child Tax Credit is being phased out. If you are still on it, DWP will write to you about moving to Universal Credit. The two-child limit will not apply when you move.
If anything is unclear, Citizens Advice can look at your situation for free and help you understand what you are entitled to.
Frequently asked questions
My UC has not gone up yet — is something wrong?
Universal Credit updates take effect at your first assessment period after 6 April 2026, so some families see the change in May and others in June. If it has not appeared by the end of June, call the Universal Credit helpline or speak to Citizens Advice, who can check your award for free.
Does this change apply in Scotland and Wales?
Yes — Universal Credit is a UK-wide benefit and the two-child limit was removed in England, Scotland, and Wales from 6 April 2026. Northern Ireland has an equivalent provision under separate legislation.
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-if-you-have-children