- Yes. If you live with a partner, Universal Credit adds your money, savings and investments to theirs, even if your partner is not eligible for UC.3
- The limits are the same as for a single person: up to £6,000 between you has no effect, and more than £16,000 between you stops UC.23
- Claiming as a single person does not get round it: if you are a couple, your partner's capital is still counted.2
The rule
The Welfare Reform Act 2012 sets the capital test for joint claimants on “their combined capital”.1
Regulation 18(1) of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 sets the limit at £16,000 for a single claimant and £16,000 for joint claimants. Regulation 18(2) says that where a member of a couple claims as a single person, their capital includes the other member's.2
Between £6,000 and £16,000, each £250 (or part of £250) of the combined total is treated as £4.35 a month of income.4
Worked example: savings in two names
A couple, both over 25, with one child. Rent is £700 a month and take-home pay is £1,500 a month. You have £4,000 saved and your partner has £9,000.
| Your savings | £4,000 |
| Your partner's savings | £9,000 |
| Counted for UC | £13,000 |
| Tariff income | £121.80 a month |
| Universal Credit a month | £958.96 |
If only your £4,000 counted, UC would be £1,080.76 a month. Your partner's savings cost £121.80 a month.
When a partner moves in with savings
If a partner moves in, report it in your account, and from then on both sets of savings are counted.3 In the example above, if the couple had £17,000 between them, UC would be £0.00.
When you separate, report it in the same way, and your own savings are then counted on their own.3
Common mistakes
Thinking separate accounts are separate. Accounts in either name, joint accounts, ISAs and investments all go into the combined figure.3
Leaving out a partner's savings because they are not claiming. GOV.UK says the combined figure counts even if your partner is not eligible.3
Counting the children's savings. Money that belongs to your children and is in their names is not counted.3
Universal Credit calculator for couples 2026/27 (free)