April is an important month financially as it kick starts new benefit and pension rates for the new tax year. confirmed a 1.7% increase to in the Budget last October, with the new rates to take effect from April 6 in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation in September 2024.
The uplift applies to working age benefits which includes , (PIP), Attendance Allowance, and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) among others, giving millions a boost to their income. Pensioners will also benefit from a payment boost as the basic and new will be uprated by 4.1%, in line with the annual increase in the Average Weekly Earnings index for May to July 2024, while the National Minimum Wage will also rise by 6.7% from April 1.
The major money changes come as the Chancellor announced a further squeeze on the welfare budget in the spring statement today, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month. The Chancellor told the Commons that the package of cuts is now estimated to save £4.8 billion in the welfare budget.
Reeves said the Universal Credit health element - sometimes called incapacity benefits - , while the Universal Credit standard allowance will increase from £92 per week in 2025-26, to £106 per week by 2029-30. It had previously been expected to rise to £107 per week by that year.
The () has confirmed the new benefit rates for 2025 to 2026, which will be paid at the following rates from April:
Attendance Allowance
- Higher rate - rising from £108.55 to £110.40
- Lower rate - rising from £72.65 to £73.90
Bereavement Benefit
Carer's Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Care Component
- Highest - rising from £108.55 to £110.40
- Middle - rising from £72.65 to £73.90
- Lowest - rising from £28.70 to £29.20
Mobility Component
- Higher - rising from £75.75 to £77.05
- Lower - rising from £28.70 to £29.20
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Single
- Under 25 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- 25 or over - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
- Lone parent under 18 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- Lone parent 18 or over - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
Couple
- Both under 18 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- Both under 18 with child - rising from £108.30 to £110.15
- Both under 18 (main phase) - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
- Both under 18 with child (main phase) - rising from £142.25 to £144.65
- One 18 or over, one under 18 - rising from £142.25 to £144.65
- Both over 18 - rising from £142.25 to £144.65
- Claimant under 25, partner under 18 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- Claimant 25 or over, partner under 18 - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
- Claimant (main phase), partner under 18 - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
Further details on amounts for mixed-age households and premiums are set out on the .
Housing Benefit
Single
- Under 25 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- 25 or over - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
- Lone parent under 18 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- Lone parent 18 or over - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
Couple
- Both under 18 - rising from £108.30 to £110.15
- One or both 18 or over - rising from £142.25 to £144.65
Incapacity Benefit
- Long-term Incapacity Benefit - rising from £138.90 to £141.25
- Short-term Incapacity Benefit (under State Pension age)
- Lower rate - rising from £104.85 to £106.65
- Higher rate - rising from £124.00 to £126.10
- Short-term Incapacity Benefit (over State Pension age)
- Lower rate - rising from £133.25 to £135.50
- Higher rate - rising from £138.90 to £141.25
- Increase of Long-term Incapacity Benefit for age
- Higher rate - rising from £14.70 to £14.95
- Lower rate - rising from £8.15 to £8.30
- Invalidity Allowance (Transitional)
- Higher rate - rising from £14.70 to £14.95
- Middle rate - rising from £8.15 to £8.30
- Lower rate - rising from £8.15 to £8.30
Income Support
Single
- Under 26 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- 25 or over - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
- Lone parent under 18 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- Lone parent 18 or over - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
Couple
- Both under 18 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- Both under 18 - higher rate - rising from £108.30 to £110.15
- One under 18, one under 25 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- One under 18, one 25 and over - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
- Both 18 or over - rising from £142.25 to £144.65
Further details on premiums are set out on the .
Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
Contribution-based JSA
- Under 25 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- 25 or over - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
Income-based JSA
Single
- Under 25 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- 25 or over - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
- Lone parent under 18 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- Lone parent 18 or over - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
Couple
- Both under 18 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- Both under 18 - higher rate - rising from £108.30 to £110.15
- One under 18, one under 25 - rising from £71.70 to £72.90
- One under 18, one 25 and over - rising from £90.50 to £92.05
- Both 18 or over - rising from £142.25 to £144.65
Further details on premiums are set out on the .
Maternity Allowance
- Standard rate - rising from £184.08 to £187.18
Pension Credit
Standard minimum guarantee
- Single - rising from £218.15 to £227.10
- Couple - rising from £332.95 to £346.60
Additional amount for severe disability
- Single - rising from £81.50 to £82.90
- Couple (one qualifies) - rising from £81.50 to £82.90
- Couple (both qualify) - rising from £163.00 to 165.80
Further details on amounts for carers, children and savings credit are set out on the .
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Daily living component
- Enhanced - rising from £108.55 to £110.40
- Standard - rising from £72.65 to £73.90
Mobility component
- Enhanced - rising from £75.75 to £77.05
- Standard - rising from £28.70 to £29.20
Severe Disablement Allowance
- Basic rate - rising from £98.40 to £100.05
- Age-related addition (from Dec 90)
- Higher rate - rising from £14.70 to £14.95
- Middle rate - rising from £8.15 to £8.30
- Lower rate - rising from £8.15 to £8.30
State Pension
New State Pension
Old State Pension
- Category A or B basic pension - rising from £169.50 to £176.45
- Category B (lower) basic pension - spouse or civil partner's insurance - rising from £101.55 to £105.70
- Category C or D - non-contributory - rising from £101.55 to £105.70
Further details on additional , increments, and invalidity allowances are on the .
Statutory Adoption Pay
Statutory Paternity Pay
Statutory Shared Parental Pay
Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay
Statutory Sick Pay
Universal Credit
Standard allowance
Single
- Under 25 - rising from £311.68 to £316.98
- 25 or over - rising from £393.45 to £400.14
Couple
- Joint claimants both under 25 - rising from £489.23 to £497.55
- Joint claimants, one of both 25 or over - rising from £617.60 to £628.10
Child amounts
- First child (born before April 6, 2017 - rising from £333.33 to £339.00)
- First child (born on or after April 6, 2017 / second child and subsequent child (where an exception or transitional provision applies) - rising from £287.92 to £292.81
Disabled child additions
- Lower rate addition - rising from £156.11 to £158.76
- Higher rate addition - rising from £487.58 to £495.87
Limited Capability for Work amount - rising from £156.11 to £158.76
Limited Capability for Work and Work-related Activity amount - rising from £416.19 to £423.27
Carer Amount - rising from £198.31 to £201.68
Childcare costs amount
- Maximum for one child - rising from £1,014.63 to £1031.88
- Maximum for two or more children - rising from £1,739.37 to £1768.94
Work allowances
Higher work allowance (no housing amount)
Lower work allowance
Further details on Universal Credit daily reduction amounts are on the .
