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Savings & benefits

Building savings, planning a pension or working out your Universal Credit — here are free calculators to project the numbers and plain-English guides to how it all fits together.

Where to start

Calculators

Savings calculatorCompound growth, the interest you earn, and a savings-goal mode.Pension calculatorA projected pension pot and an estimate of your retirement income.Universal Credit calculatorEstimate your monthly Universal Credit award on 2026/27 rates.UC if self-employedHow the Minimum Income Floor affects Universal Credit for the self-employed.Better off working more?See how extra hours change your Universal Credit and your total income.

Guides

How UK pensions workWorkplace vs personal pensions, tax relief, and how your pot becomes an income.How compound interest worksHow interest on interest grows your savings — and why starting early matters most.Universal Credit & workHow earning more affects your award, the taper rate and work allowances explained.

Common questions

How much will my savings grow?

It depends on the amount, the interest rate, how often interest is added and how long you save. Compounding means interest earns interest, so longer time frames grow faster than you’d expect. The savings calculator projects your balance and lets you work towards a goal.

How much pension will I need?

A common rule of thumb is aiming for around two-thirds of your working income in retirement, but it depends on your lifestyle and the State Pension you’ll receive. Starting early and getting employer contributions and tax relief makes a big difference. The pension calculator projects your pot and income.

How does Universal Credit work if I’m working?

Universal Credit doesn’t stop the moment you work — your award reduces gradually as you earn more, by 55p for every £1 above any work allowance. So working more almost always leaves you better off overall. The Universal Credit calculator estimates your monthly award.

Will earning more reduce my Universal Credit?

Yes, but only gradually through the taper rate, and never by more than you earn — so you keep at least 45p of every extra £1. The “better off working more?” calculator shows how extra hours change your UC and total income together.