DWP confirms new 2025 payment rates for State Pension, PIP, Universal Credit and other benefits
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.
READ MORE: People over State Pension age need to claim Winter Fuel Payment before deadline next month
READ MORE: New DWP payment update for people on PIP or Universal Credit going into hospital over festive season
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 has now confirmed the proposed weekly or monthly rates for the new financial year, a full breakdown of all benefits, including additional payments, the benefit cap and new deduction rates can be found on GOV.UK here.
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): £144.65 (from £142.25)
Couple, both over 18: £144.65 (from £142.25)
Full details on amounts for mixed age households and premiums can be found on GOV.UK here.
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 can be found on GOV.UK here.
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: £144.65 (from £142.25)
Full details on amounts for mixed age households and premiums can be found on GOV.UK here.
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)
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: £105.70 (from £101.55)
Category C or D - non-contributory: £105.70 (from £101.55)
Full details on Additional State Pension, Widows Pension, increments and Invalidity Allowance can be found on GOV.UK here.
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)
A full list of additional elements related to Universal Credit, including the Work Capability Allowance, can be found on GOV.UK here.
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 on December 4.