{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/universal-credit-regulations-northern-ireland-2016/regulation-38",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/universal-credit-regulations-northern-ireland-2016/regulation-38.json",
  "legislation": "nisr/2016/216",
  "legislation_title": "The Universal Credit Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/universal-credit-regulations-northern-ireland-2016",
  "path": "regulation/38",
  "kind": "regulation",
  "number": "38",
  "heading": "Amounts of elements",
  "text": "(1) The amounts of the standard allowance, the child element, the LCWRA element and the carer element (which are all fixed amounts) and the maximum amounts of the childcare costs element are given in the following table.\n(2) The amount of the housing costs element is dealt with in regulation 27.\n(3) In the case of an award where the claimant is a member of a couple, but claims as a single person, the amounts are those shown in the table for a single claimant.\nElement\nAmount for each assessment period\nStandard allowance—\nsingle claimant aged under 25\n£338.58\nsingle claimant aged 25 or over\n£424.90\njoint claimants both age under 25\n£528.34\njoint claimants where either is aged 25 or over\n£666.97\nChild element—\nfirst child or qualifying young person\n£351.88\nsecond and each subsequent child or qualifying young person\n£303.94\nAdditional amount for disabled child or qualifying young person—\nlower rate\n£164.79\nhigher rate\n£514.71\nLCW and LCWRA elements—\nlimited capability for work\n£158.76\nclaimant with limited capability for work and work-related activity, other than a pre-2026 claimant, a severe conditions criteria claimant or a claimant who is terminally ill\n£217.26\npre-2026 claimant, severe conditions criteria claimant or claimant who is terminally ill\n£429.80\nCarer element.\n£209.34\nChildcare costs element—\nmaximum amount for one child\n£1,071.09\nmaximum amount for two or more children\n£1,836.16",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in reg. 38(1) substituted (coming into force in accordance with reg. 1(2) of the amending Rule) by The Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments and Transitional and Savings Provisions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/146), regs. 1(2), 2(6)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Sum in Reg. 38 table substituted (coming into force in accordance with of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2025 (S.R. 2025/64), arts. 1(1)(n), 32(2), Sch. 13"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in reg. 38 Table substituted (6.4.2026 with effect in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by The Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (Rates of Allowances) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (S.R. 2026/54), regs. 1(4), 3(3)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Sums in reg. 38 Table substituted (coming into operation in accordance with art. 1(1)(n) of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2026 (S.R. 2026/59), arts. 1(1)(n), 32(2), Sch. 13"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in reg. 38 Table inserted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(5)(a)(10)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in reg. 38 Table substituted (6.4.2026 with effect as in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by Universal Credit Act 2025 (c. 22), Sch. 2 para. 2(5)(b)(10)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Sum in reg. 38 Table substituted (6.4.2026 with effect in relation to assessment periods commencing on or after that date) by The Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (Rates of Allowances) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026 (S.R. 2026/54), regs. 1(4), 3(3)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Sums in reg. 38 Table amended (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(1)(o) of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/40), arts. 1(1)(o), 33(2), Sch. 13"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Reg. 38 modified (temp.) (6.4.2021) by The Universal Credit (Extension of Coronavirus Measures) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (S.R. 2021/67), regs. 1, 2(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "Sums in reg. 38 Table amended (coming into operation in accordance with art. 1(1)(p) of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2021 (S.R. 2021/82), arts. 1(1)(p), 33(2), Sch. 13"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C4",
      "text": "Reg. 38: sum amended (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(1)(p) of the amending Rule) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 (S.R. 2023/43), art. 33(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C5",
      "text": "Reg. 38: sum modified (26.9.2023) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating (No. 3) Order (Northern Ireland) 2023 (S.R. 2023/150), arts. 1, 32(2), Sch. 13"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2016/216/regulation/38",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-12T03:38:18.733448+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}