Work as a companion on your own terms while you claim Universal Credit
AirCarers Companion companions are self-employed. They choose their own hours and set their own rate, and a flat platform fee of £8.50 an hour is deducted. At £20 an hour, a monthly Universal Credit work allowance of £427 or £710 lets a companion work 21 or 35 hours before Universal Credit falls at all. Above the allowance, Universal Credit goes down by 55p for each £1 of profit, and real business costs paid in the month come off first.
This guide covers how to find your work allowance, a calculator, which costs count, the minimum income floor and five steps to get started. Every figure is sourced to GOV.UK and was checked on 14 October 2026. This guide is general information, not benefits advice.
Become a companion