More than 20 million people receiving the State Pension or benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will see payment rates for the 2025/26 financial year increase from April 7, 2025. The New and Basic State Pensions will increase by 4.1 per cent, under the earnings growth measure of the Triple Lock, while most working age and disability benefits are going up by the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate figure of 1.7 per cent.
Additional State Pension payments will also rise by the 1.7 per cent CPI figure. Annual uprating letters are sent out to all claimants before the new payment rates start, letting people know about the changes – it’s important to keep this somewhere safe as it can often be used as proof of benefit entitlement when applying for other streams of financial support.
Pension Credit, a passport benefit designed to provide additional support for low-income pensioner households, will also rise by 4.1 per cent, taking the average annual award to over £4,000.
More than 760,000 pensioners are entitled to this gateway benefit and not claiming it and it’s important to be aware that an award of just £1 per week is enough to access annual Winter Fuel Payments.
New claims made before December 21, 2025, which later turns out to be successful, will qualify for a backdated Winter Fuel Payment – full details here.
People on Carer’s Allowance will see the weekly earnings threshold rise from £151 per week to £196, equivalent to 16 hours at the National Minimum Wage.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves also announced that deductions from Universal Credit payments will drop from 25 per cent to 15 per cent.
Claimants on devolved benefits in Scotland, such as Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, Carer Support Payment and Pension Age Disability Payment will see payments rise by 1.7 per cent. This is the same rate as their DWP counterparts to prevent a two-tier benefits system – the Scottish Government will confirm the new rates during the Budget next month.
New DWP payment rates 2025/26
The DWP will confirm the weekly or monthly rates in due course, the proposed increases need to go through the parliamentary process.
The Daily Record has calculated the new payment rates under the relevant uprating figure and using the Uk Government’s rounding policy. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, these figures may change – once the official rates have been published we will update this article.
Weekly rates are shown, unless otherwise stated and have been listed in alphabetical order to make it easier to find the payment relevant to your own situation.
Attendance Allowance
- Higher rate: £110.40 (from £108.55)
- Lower rate: £73.90 (from £72.65)
Carer’s Allowance
- April 2025 rate: £83.30 (from £81.90)
- Weekly earnings threshold: £196.00 (from £151)
Disability Living Allowance / Child Disability Payment
Care Component
- Highest: £110.40 (from £108.55)
- Middle: £73.90 (from £72.65)
- Lowest: £29.20 (from £28.70)
Mobility component
- Higher: £77.05 (from £75.75)
- Lower: £29.20 (from £28.70)
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 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, over 18: £92.05 (from £90.50)
- Couple, both under 18: £72.90 from (71.70)
- Couple, both under 18 with child: £110.15 (from £108.30)
- Couple, both under 18 (main phase): £92.05 (from £90.50)
- Couple, both under 18 with child (main phase): £144.70 (from £142.30)
- Couple, both over 18: £144.65 (from £142.25)
Full details on amounts for mixed age households and premiums will be published on GOV.UK before the end of the month.
Incapacity Benefit
- Long-term Incapacity Benefit: £141.25 (from £138.90)
Short-term Incapacity Benefit (under State Pension age)
- Lower rate: £106.65 (from £104.85)
- Higher rate: £126.10 (from £124.00)
Short-term Incapacity Benefit (over State Pension age)
- Lower rate: £135.50 (from £133.25)
- Higher rate: £141.25 (from £138.90)
Increase of Long-term Incapacity Benefit for age
- Lower rate: £8.30 (from £8.15)
- Higher rate £14.95 (from £14.70)
Invalidity Allowance (Transitional)
- Higher rate: £14.95 (from £14.70)
- Middle rate: £8.30 (from £8.15
- Lower rate: £8.30 (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)
Full details on additional premiums by age and household circumstances will be published on GOV.UK before the end of the month.
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
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: £ (from £142.25)
Full details on amounts for mixed age households and premiums will be published on GOV.UK before the end of the month.
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)
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)
State Pension
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: £103.30 (from £101.55)
- Category C or D – non-contributory: £103.30 (from £101.55)
Full details on Additional State Pension, increments and Invalidity Allowance will be published on GOV.UK before the end of the month.
Universal Credit (monthly rates)
Single
- Under 25: £316.93 (from £311.63)
- 25 or over: £400.14 (from £393.45)
Couples
- Joint claimants both under 25: £497.39 (from £489.23)
- Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £628.10 (from £617.60)
Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity
- Amount from April 2025: £423.26 (from £416.19)
- Carer amount: £201.68 (from £198.31)
HMRC payment rates 2025/26
HMRC has also confirmed the new payment rates for Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance. Tax Credits are ending on April 5, 2025 so there are no payment changes.
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)
Full details on Scottish benefits will be announced at the Scottish Government’s budget next month.