Millions of people across the United Kingdom rely on Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits to manage their household budgets, whether through pensions, disability support, or income top-ups. Official data from February 2025 indicates that approximately 24 million individuals were claiming some form of DWP benefit, including 13.2 million of State Pension age and 10 million of working age.
Annual Benefit Uplift Takes Effect in April
Each year, benefit amounts are typically adjusted following government proposals announced in the annual Budget. The DWP will implement these new payment rates from April 6, 2026, through to April 5, 2027. This annual increase is crucial for helping recipients keep pace with living costs and inflation pressures.
Comprehensive List of New Benefit Rates
The figures below represent weekly rates unless otherwise specified. These are standard amounts, with additional elements potentially payable depending on individual circumstances. The list covers the full spectrum of DWP-administered support.
Attendance Allowance
- Higher rate: £114.60
- Lower rate: £76.70
Bereavement Benefits
- Widowed Parent's Allowance: £156.65
- Bereavement Support Payment - Standard rate lump sum: £2,500, monthly payments: £100
- Bereavement Support Payment - Higher rate lump sum: £3,500, monthly payments: £350
Carer's Allowance
- Weekly rate: £86.45
Disability Living Allowance
- Care component - Highest: £114.60, Middle: £76.70, Lowest: £30.30
- Mobility component - Higher: £80, Lower: £30.30
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Contributory and New Style ESA - Personal Allowances:
- Single under 25: £75.65
- Single 25 or over: £95.55
- Lone parent under 18: £75.65
- Lone parent 18 or over: £95.55
- Components - Work related activity: £37.95, Support: £50.35
Income Related ESA - Personal Allowances:
- Single under 25: £77.52
- Single 25 or over: £97.75
- Lone parent under 18: £77.52
- Lone parent 18 or over: £97.75
- Couple both under 18: £77.52
- Couple both under 18 with child: £117
- Couple both under 18 (main phase): £97.75
- Couple both under 18 with child (main phase): £153.61
- One 18 or over, one under 18: £153.61
- Both over 18: £153.61
- Claimant under 25, partner under 18: £77.52
- Claimant 25 or over, partner under 18: £97.75
- Claimant (main phase), partner under 18: £97.75
Income Related ESA - Premiums:
- Enhanced disability - Single: £22, Couple: £31.40
- Severe disability - Single: £86.05, Couple (lower rate): £86.05, Couple (higher rate): £172.10
- Carer: £48.15
- Pensioner - Single with work-related activity component: £105.90, Single with support component: £93.95, Single with no component: £142.45
- Pensioner - Couple with work-related activity component: £176.55, Couple with support component: £164.60, Couple with no component: £213.10
- Components - Work related activity: £36.55, Support: £48.50
Housing Benefit
Personal Allowances:
- Single under 25: £75.65
- Single 25 or over: £95.55
- Single entitled to main phase ESA: £95.55
- Lone parent under 18: £75.65
- Lone parent 18 or over: £95.55
- Lone parent entitled to main phase ESA: £95.55
- Couple both under 18: £114.35
- Couple one or both 18 or over: £150.15
- Claimant entitled to main phase ESA: £150.15
- Dependent children: £87.88
State Pension Age:
- Single or lone parent (State Pension age or over): £256.00
- Couple (State Pension age or over): £383.35
- Single or lone parent (reached state pension age on or after 1 April 2021): £238.00
- Couple (both reached state pension age on or after 1 April 2021): £363.25
- For claimant and other party to marriage where one or more members are State Pension age or over: £383.35
- For each additional spouse in same household where one or more members are State Pension age or over: £127.35
Incapacity Benefit
- Long-term Incapacity Benefit: £146.60
- Short-term Incapacity Benefit (under state pension age) - Lower rate: £110.70, Higher rate: £130.90
- Short-term Incapacity Benefit (over state pension age) - Lower rate: £140.65, Higher rate: £146.60
Income Support
Personal Allowances:
- Single under 25: £75.65
- Single 25 or over: £95.55
- Lone parent under 18: £75.65
- Lone parent 18 or over: £95.55
- Couple both under 18: £75.65
- Couple both under 18 - higher rate: £114.35
- Couple one under 18, one under 25: £75.65
- Couple one under 18, one 25 and over: £95.55
- Couple both 18 or over: £150.15
- Dependent children: £87.88
Industrial Death Benefit
- Widow’s pension - Higher rate: £184.90, Lower rate: £55.47
- Widower’s pension: £184.90
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Standard rate: Between £46.78 and £233.90 depending on award level
Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
Contribution based JSA - Personal Rates:
- Single under 25: £75.65
- Single 25 or over: £95.55
Income-based JSA - Personal Allowances:
- Single under 25: £75.65
- Single 25 or over: £95.55
- Lone parent under 18: £75.65
- Lone parent 18 or over: £95.55
- Couple both under 18: £75.65
- Couple both under 18 - higher rate: £114.35
- Couple one under 18, one under 25: £75.65
- Couple one under 18, one 25 and over: £95.55
- Couple both 18 or over: £150.15
- Dependent children: £87.88
Maternity Allowance
- Standard rate: £194.32
- Maternity Allowance threshold: £30.00
Pension Credit
- Standard minimum guarantee - Single: £238.00, Couple: £363.25
- Additional amount for severe disability - Single: £86.05, Couple (one qualifies): £86.05, Couple (both qualify): £172.10
- Additional amount for carers: £48.15
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Daily living component - Enhanced: £114.60, Standard: £76.70
- Mobility component - Enhanced: £80.00, Standard: £30.30
Severe Disablement Allowance
- Basic rate: £103.86
State Pension
- New State Pension - Full rate: £241.30
- Old State Pension - Category A or B basic pension: £184.90
- Old State Pension - Category B (lower) basic pension - spouse or civil partner’s insurance: £110.75
- Old State Pension - Category C or D - non-contributory: £110.75
Statutory Payments
All statutory payments have an earnings threshold of £129.00 and a standard rate of £194.32, except where noted:
- Statutory Adoption Pay
- Statutory Maternity Pay
- Statutory Neonatal Pay
- Statutory Paternity Pay
- Statutory Shared Parental Pay
- Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay
- Statutory Sick Pay: Standard rate: £123.25
Universal Credit (UC) - Monthly Rates
UC Amounts - Standard allowance:
- Single under 25: £338.58
- Single 25 or over: £424.90
- Couple joint claimants both under 25: £528.34
- Couple joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £666.97
Child amounts:
- First child (born prior to 6 April 2017): £351.88
- First child (born on or after 6 April 2017) / second child and subsequent child (where exception or transitional provision applies): £303.94
- Disabled child additions - Lower rate: £164.79, Higher rate: £514.71
Widow’s Benefit
- Widowed mother’s allowance: £156.65
- Widow’s pension - Standard rate: £150.90
Additional Family Support Payments
While not administered by the DWP, Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance are crucial payments for many families, administered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). These will also increase from April 6, 2026, through April 5, 2027.
Child Benefit
- Eldest or only child: £27.05 weekly
- Other children: £17.90 weekly
Guardian's Allowance
- Weekly rate: £22.95
This comprehensive update ensures that benefit recipients can accurately anticipate their increased payments from next month. The DWP encourages individuals to check their specific circumstances, as additional premiums and elements may apply beyond these standard rates.
