The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed key benefit payment dates for June 2026, as households brace for another significant increase in energy bills. Ofgem announced that the energy price cap will rise by £221 a year to £1,862 from July, an increase of nearly 13%, driven by volatility in global oil and gas markets.
With no bank holidays affecting the schedule, payments will proceed as normal throughout June. The State Pension continues to be paid every four weeks, with the payment day determined by the last two digits of the claimant's National Insurance number. Benefit rates were uplifted in April, with Universal Credit standard allowances rising by 6.2% and most disability and working-age benefits increasing by 3.8%.
However, reforms to the health-related element of Universal Credit mean new claimants now receive £50 a week instead of £105, and existing claimant rates are frozen until 2029. The full new State Pension increased by 4.8% under the triple lock, now worth £241.05 a week.
Several major energy suppliers, including British Gas, EDF, Octopus Energy, and Scottish Power, continue to offer hardship schemes and grants. Households on lower incomes may also qualify for discounted broadband and water social tariffs, and some families can receive up to 100% council tax support. Councils in England are distributing assistance through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund, which replaced the Household Support Fund in April, with a 'cash-first' approach encouraged by the DWP.
Universal Credit claimants may be eligible for interest-free budgeting advance loans, repaid through future benefit deductions. Despite the financial strain, billions in benefits go unclaimed each year—approximately £24bn, according to Policy in Practice. The DWP reports that around 24 million people currently receive some form of benefit or State Pension support. No new cost of living payments are scheduled for 2026, following the conclusion of the previous scheme in February 2024.
