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Deductions from Universal Credit: the current cap

There is a limit on how much can be taken from your Universal Credit each month — and you can ask for it to be reduced.

Universal Credit Debts3 min readReviewed July 2026

Total deductions are capped as a percentage of your standard allowance. Where deductions cause hardship, you can ask the DWP to lower them.

Common deductions include Advance repayments, benefit overpayments, tax credit debts, and third-party deductions for rent or utilities.

A debt help team member can help you list every deduction, challenge any that shouldn't be there, and negotiate a rate you can actually live on.

General information, not personalised adviceThis article is written to inform. It isn't personalised debt or legal advice, and Debt Compass is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. A team member can talk you through the options and point you to a free debt help service or authorised insolvency practitioner before you decide on anything.