UK households receiving certain Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits could claim up to £2,672.77 this August through a combination of freebies, discounts and handouts. The total includes increases to Universal Credit, state pension, child benefit and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) that were applied in April.
Not every household will be eligible for all of these payments, but one household could theoretically claim all of them at once, provided residents meet the criteria for each benefit and remain within the Benefit Cap. The cap is set at just under £26,000 a year for those in London and roughly £23,000 for those outside the capital.
Universal Credit and State Pension Increases
Universal Credit payments increased by 6.2% from April. The standard rate for a single person under 25 rose from £316.90 to £3338.58 per month (corrected: the source states £3338.58, but this appears to be a typo; the correct figure is £338.58, as per the source's context). For single people over 25, the rate rose from £400.14 to £424.90. Couples under 25 saw an increase from £497.55 to £528.34, and couples over 25 from £628.10 to £666.97.
State pensions also rose, linked to wage growth of 4.8% under the Triple Lock. The full new state pension is now £241.30 per week, or £1,045.63 per month on average. The old basic state pension increased from £176.45 to £184.90 per week. Those on the old pension can boost their payments by claiming Pension Credit, which rose to £238 per week from April.
Child Benefit and PIP Rates
Child benefit rose to £27.05 per week for the first child, averaging £117.21 per month. Each additional child attracts £17.90 per week, with no limit on the number of additional children aside from the overall benefit cap.
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) also increased in April. Standard daily living rose to £76.70 per week, enhanced daily living to £114.60, standard mobility to £30.30, and enhanced mobility to £80. A person qualifying for the enhanced element of both daily living and mobility could receive £843.26 per month. The Chancellor has announced a consultation on PIP changes, but no changes have been implemented for 2026-2027.
