From April 2025, an increase in benefits such as Child Benefit and Universal Credit will be implemented, affecting over 19 million households across the UK that receive at least one DWP or HMRC benefit. Welfare payments typically see an annual rise in line with the inflation rate from the previous September.
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation for September 2024 was announced to be 1.7%, which is the rate by which inflation-linked benefits and tax credits will increase this year.
The State Pension will experience a 4.1% boost under the triple lock promise. This guarantee ensures the state pension rises each April by the highest out of inflation (using the previous September inflation figure), wages (average growth between May and July) or 2.5% – whichever is highest.
Alongside the State Pension, several other benefits including Universal Credit, Child Benefits and Disability Living Allowance will also see an increase. Here’s a rundown of the affected benefits and what recipients can expect:.
Universal Credit: This is replacing six older legacy benefits – including Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit – it is claimed by more than six million people in the UK. The standard allowance – the basic amount you get before any additional payments or deductions are accounted for – will rise by, reports the Mirror.
Single claimants under 25 will see their monthly payments rise from £311.68 to £316.98, while those aged 25 or over will receive an increase from £393.45 to £400.14 per month. Joint claimants both under 25 will get a boost from £489.23 to £497.55 a month, and if one or both are 25 or over, the amount will go up from £617.60 to £628.10 a month, according to the Liverpool Echo.
Additional payments are also available for certain circumstances such as dependent children or long-term illness. The child element for the first child born before April 6, 2017, will increase from £333.33 to £339 a month.
For the first child born on or after April 6, 2017, or second child and subsequent children, the amount will rise from £287.92 to £292.81 a month.
The disabled child element at the lower rate will go up from £156.11 to £158.76 a month, and the higher rate from £487.58 to £495.87 a month. Those with limited capability for work will see an increase from £156.11 to £158.76 a month, and for those with limited capability for work or work-related activity, the amount will rise from £416.19 to £423.27 a month.
The carer element will increase from £198.31 to £201.68 a month. The higher work allowance (no housing amount) will rise from £673 to £684 a month, and the lower work allowance (with housing amount) from £404 to £411 a month.
The childcare cost element will also see an increase. The maximum for one child will go up from £1,014.63 to £1,031.88 a month, and for two or more children, the amount will rise from £1,739.37 to £1,768.94 a month.
Attendance Allowance, for those over the state pension age who need help or supervision with personal care due to illness or disability, will also increase. The lower rate will go up from £72.65 a week to £73.90 a week, and the higher rate from £108.55 a week to £110.40 a week.
Carer’s Allowance, provided to individuals who care for someone for 35 hours or more per week irrespective of their living situation or familial ties, will see an increase from £81.90 a week to £83.30 a week. Child Benefit, a monthly stipend for parents or caregivers of a child, will rise for the first or eldest child from £25.60 a week to £26.05 a week, and for any subsequent children from £16.95 a week to £17.25 a week.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which is gradually being replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for those with disabilities, can only be claimed if you’re under 16 and reside in England or Wales. Residents of Scotland can apply for Child Disability Payment instead.
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DLA care component rates will see an increase as follows: The highest rate from £108.55 a week to £110.40 a week, the middle rate from £72.65 a week to £73.90 a week, and the lowest rate from £28.70 a week to £29.20 a week.
DLA mobility component rates will also see a rise: The higher rate from £75.75 a week to £77.05 a week, and the lower rate from £28.70 a week to £29.20 a week.
Pension Credit, which supplements income for those above state pension age and grants access to other benefits such as council tax discounts and free TV licences for over-75s, will raise its standard minimum guarantee for singles from £218.15 a week to £227.10 a week, and for couples from £332.95 a week to £346.60 a week.
Extra benefits are on offer if you’re a carer, disabled, caring for children, or if you’ve reached state pension age before April 2016 and have savings. The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is designed for working-age adults living with an illness, disability or mental health condition.
PIP comprises two parts – a daily living rate and a mobility rate. You may be eligible for one or both of these components.
The daily living lower rate varies from £72.65 to £73.90 per week, while the higher rate ranges between £108.55 and £110.40 weekly. The mobility lower rate stands at £28.70 to £29.20 per week, and the higher rate is set at £75.75 to £77.05 weekly.
If you’re a man born on or after April 6, 1951, or a woman born on or after April 6, 1953, you can apply for the new state pension. The basic state pension applies to men born before April 6, 1951, or women born before April 6, 1953.
The full new state pension amounts to £221.20 to £230.25 per week, while the full old basic state pension comes in at £169.50 to £176.45 weekly.
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