Millions of elderly individuals on the State Pension are set to see a 4.1 per cent increase in payments this year. Those on working age or disability benefits can expect a 1.7 per cent rise.
However, many may not be aware that despite the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) implementing the new rates on April 7, most claimants won’t see the higher payments until at least the following month. This is due to the fact that most payments are made four-weeks in arrears.
However, some State Pension recipients who receive payments weekly or fortnightly will benefit from the uplift sooner. Universal Credit works slightly differently as assessment periods run from month-to-month on a specific date, meaning the increased amount may not arrive until the next payment cycle in May.
Those claiming devolved benefits in Scotland, such as Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, Carer Support Payment and Pension Age Disability Payment will also see a 1.7 per cent rise from April 1, according to the Daily Record. Similar to DWP, most payments are made in arrears, which means the uprating may not be seen until the next scheduled pay period.
A detailed breakdown of all benefits, including additional payments, the benefit cap and new deduction rates can be found on GOV.UK.
New DWP payment rates for 2025/26
The weekly rates are displayed, unless stated otherwise, and have been arranged in alphabetical order for ease of reference.
- Higher rate: £110.40 (up from £108.55)
- Lower rate: £73.90 (increased from £72.65)
Carer’s Allowance:
- April 2025 rate: £83.30 (a rise from £81.90)
- Weekly earnings threshold: £196.00 (previously £151)
Disability Living Allowance / Child Disability Payment:
Care Component
- Highest: £110.40 (an increase from £108.55)
- Middle: £73.90 (up from £72.65)
- Lowest: £29.20 (from £28.70)
Mobility component
- Higher: £77.05 (raised from £75.75)
- Lower: £29.20 (up from £28.70)
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA):
- Single, under 25: £72.90 (up from £71.70)
- Single, 25 or over: £92.05 (increased from £90.50)
- Lone parent, under 18: £72.90 (up from £71.70)
- Lone parent, over 18: £92.05 (up from £90.50)
- Couple, both under 18: £72.90 (up from £71.70)
- Couple, both under 18 with child: £110.15 (up from £108.30)
- Couple, both under 18 (main phase): £92.05 (up from £90.50)
- Couple, both under 18 with child (main phase): £144.65 (up from £142.25)
- Couple, both over 18: £144.65 (up from £142.25)
Incapacity Benefit:
- Long-term Incapacity Benefit: £141.25 (up from £138.90)
Short-term Incapacity Benefit (under State Pension age)
- Lower rate: £106.65 (up from £104.85)
- Higher rate: £126.10 (up from £124.00)
Short-term Incapacity Benefit (over State Pension age)
- Lower rate: £135.50 (up from £133.25)
- Higher rate: £141.25 (up from £138.90)
Increase of Long-term Incapacity Benefit for age
- Lower rate: £8.30 (up from £8.15)
- Higher rate £14.95 (up from £14.70)
Invalidity Allowance (Transitional):
- Higher rate: £14.95 (up from £14.70)
- Middle rate: £8.30 (up from £8.15)
- Lower rate: £8.30 (up from £8.15)
Income Support:
- Single, under 25: £72.90 (from £71.70)
- Single, 25 or over: £92.05 (from £90.50)
- Lone parent, under 18: £72.90 (from £71.70)
- Lone parent, 18 or over: £92.05 (from £90.50)
- Couple, both under 18: £72.90 (from £71.70)
- Couple, both under 18 – higher rate: £110.15 (from £108.30)
- Couple, one under 18, one under 25: £72.90 (from £71.70)
- Couple, one under 18, one 25 and over: £92.05 (from £90.50)
- Couple, both 18 or over: £144.65 (from £142.25)
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA):
- Under 25: £72.90 (from £71.70)
- 25 or over: £92.05 (from £90.50)
Contribution based JSA
- Under 25: £72.90 (from £71.70)
- 25 or over: £92.05 (from £90.50)
Income-based JSA
- Under 25: £72.90 (from £71.70)
- 25 or over: £92.05 (from £90.50)
Lone parent:
- Under 18: £72.90 (from £71.70)
- 18 or over: £92.05 (from £90.50)
- Couple, both under 18: £72.90 (from £71.70)
- Couple, both under 18 – higher rate: £110.15 (from £108.30)
- Couple, one under 18, one under 25: £72.90 (from £71.70)
- Couple, one under 18, one 25 and over: £92.05 (from £90.50)
- Couple, both 18 or over: £144.65 (from £142.25)
Maternity Allowance:
- Standard rate: £187.18 (from £184.03)
Pension Credit:
Standard minimum guarantee
- Single: £227.10 (from £218.15)
- Couple: £346.60 (from £332.95)
Additional amount for severe disability
- Single: £82.90 (from £81.50)
- Couple (one qualifies): £82.90 (from £81.50)
- Couple (both qualify): £165.75 (from £163.00)
- Additional amount for carers: £46.40 (from £45.60)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) / Adult Disability Payment
Daily Living Component
- Enhanced: £110.40 (from £108.55)
- Standard: £73.90 (from £72.65)
Mobility Component:
- Enhanced: £77.05 (from £75.75)
- Standard: £29.20 (from £28.70)
New State Pension
- Full rate: £230.25 (from £221.20)
Old/Basic State Pension:
- Category A or B Basic State Pension: £176.45 (from £169.50)
- Category B (lower) Basic State Pension – spouse or civil Partner’s insurance: £105.70 (from £101.55)
- Category C or D – non-contributory: £105.70 (from £101.55)
Universal Credit (monthly rates):
Single
- Under 25: £316.98 (from £311.63)
- 25 or over: £400.14 (from £393.45)
Couples
- Joint claimants both under 25: £497.55 (from £489.23)
- Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £628.10 (from £617.60)
HMRC payment rates 2025/26:
HMRC has also announced the new payment rates for Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance for the 2025/26 tax year. Please note that Tax Credits will cease on April 5, 2025, hence there will be no changes in payments.
Child Benefit:
- Eldest or only child: £26.05 (from £25.60)
- Additional children: £17.25 (from £16.95)
Guardian’s Allowance:
- From April 2025: £22.10 (from £21.75)
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