Guides › Public Services › Money Taken From Your Universal Credit: Deductions and How to Lower Them
Money Taken from Your Universal Credit: Deductions and How to Lower Them
DWP can take money from your Universal Credit to repay advances, overpayments, loans and some bills such as rent arrears, energy, council tax and fines. In total these are normally limited to 15% of your standard allowance, cut from 25% on 30 April 2025. Some last resort deductions can go higher. If you are struggling, you can ask for a financial hardship decision to lower benefit debt repayments.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
What Can Be Taken
Where to Check
Sign in to your Universal Credit account, go to Payments and look at "What we take off - deductions". source
Types
Advance repayments, Universal Credit and other benefit overpayments (penalties can be added), recoverable hardship payments, budgeting loan repayments, and third-party deductions for utilities, council tax, child maintenance, rent, service charges and court fines. Only 3 third-party deductions can run at once. source
The Cap
The maximum is normally 15% of your standard allowance. It was 25% until 30 April 2025. Last resort deductions, to meet child maintenance or prevent eviction or a utility cut-off, can be higher. source
Getting Them Lowered
Financial Hardship Decision
If you are struggling, ask for a financial hardship decision to reduce benefit debt repayments. It can cover benefit debts, budgeting loans, advances, and rent arrears taken at more than 10% of the standard allowance. Any reduction applies from your next assessment period. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 7 daysObject to a rent arrears deductionAfter your landlord asks DWP
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Check what is being taken in your online account.
Step 2 of 5
Ask DWP which debt each deduction is for.
Step 3 of 5
If you are struggling, ask for a financial hardship decision.
Step 4 of 5
Object within 7 days if your landlord asks for rent arrears you dispute.
Step 5 of 5
Get free debt advice before agreeing to more deductions.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Universal Credit Journal
Sign in to your account and write to DWP. It gives you a dated record.
Free Debt Advice
StepChange, National Debtline or your local Citizens Advice can help you check and lower deductions.
Citizens Advice
Free, independent help with benefits, including challenges and appeals.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Deductions can change each month because they are worked out at the end of each assessment period.
Rules here are for England and Wales. Scotland has its own disability and carer benefits from Social Security Scotland, and Northern Ireland benefits are run through nidirect.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-debt-and-deductions-that-can-be-taken-from-payments Checked 15 October 2026