Full list of DWP benefit payments increasing in April 2025 (2025)

Benefit payments increase every year in April in line with inflation rates - here's a full list of how much they are going up by from this month

Welfare benefit rates, including State Pension and Universal Credit, are going up this month by almost 2%. DWP payments increase every year in line with the rate of inflation from the previous September.

In September 2024 the inflation rate was confirmed as being 1.7%, according to the consumer price index, meaning rates are going up this month for everyone who claims the benefits.

An exception to this rule is the State Pension which increases by whichever is highest out of inflation, wages based on average growth between May and July, or 2.5% - the triple lock promise.

This year it will rise by 4.1% in line with average earnings growth. Other benefits set to increase include Universal Credit, Child Benefits, and Disability Living Allowance.

The new rates come into force just weeks after recent changes to the welfare system were announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall.

The major overhaul of the benefits system will overwhelmingly effecting PIP claimants and eligibility criteria. It means people who have 'lower needs' will be ineligible for the daily living component of PIP in the future through changes to the PIP scoring system.

However, Ms Kendall told the House of Commons that PIP would not be frozen or 'means-tested' as part of the reforms. According to the Green Paper, PIP will remain an 'important' and 'non-means tested' benefit for disabled people and people with health conditions, regardless of whether they are in work or not.

Below is a full list of DWP benefits that are increasing in April 2025 and by how much.

Universal Credit

Universal credit is the benefit payment that people receive instead of the old legacy benefits. It currently replaces six 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. Over six million people in the UK claim universal credit.

The standard allowance - the basic amount you get before any additional payments or deductions are accounted for - is set to increase by:

• Single under 25: £311.68 a month to £316.98 a month
• Single 25 or over: £393.45 a month to £400.14 a month
• Joint claimants both under 25: £489.23 a month to £497.55 a month
• Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £617.60 a month to £628.10 a month

Some receive additional payments for factors such as dependent children or long-term illness.

Child element

• First child born before April 6, 2017: £333.33 a month to £339 a month
• First child born on or after April 6, 2017 or second child and subsequent child: £287.92 a month to £292.81 a month
• Disabled child element lower rate: £156.11 a month to £158.76 a month
• Disabled child higher rate: £487.58 a month to £495.87 a month

Limited capability for work

• Limited capability for work: £156.11 a month to £158.76 a month
• Limited capability for work or work-related activity: £416.19 a month to £423.27 a month

Carer element

• £198.31 a month to £201.68 a month

Work allowance

• Higher work allowance (no housing amount): £673 a month to £684 a month
• Lower work allowance (with housing amount): £404 a month to £411 a month

Childcare cost element

• Maximum for one child: £1,014.63 a month to £1,031.88 a month
• Maximum for two or more children: £1,739.37 a month to £1,768.94 a month

Attendance Allowance

This is a benefit paid to people over the state pension age who need help or supervision with personal care due to illness or disability.

Lower rate

• £72.65 a week to £73.90 a week

Higher rate

• £108.55 a week £110.40 a week

Carer's Allowance

This benefit is given to people who look after someone for 35 hours or more a week. You don't have to live with or be related to the person you are caring for to be eligible.

• £81.90 a week to £83.30 a week

Child Benefit

Child benefit payments are made to parents or anyone looking after a child.

• First or eldest child: £25.60 a week to £26.05 a week
• Any additional child: £16.95 a week to £17.25 a week

Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is being replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for those with a disability. You can only apply for DLA if you're under 16 and you live in England or Wales. Those who live in Scotland can apply for Child Disability Payment.

DLA care component rates will increase as follows:

• The highest rate: £108.55 a week to £110.40 a week
• The middle rate from £72.65 a week to £73.90 a week
• The lowest rate from £28.70 a week to £29.20 a week

DLA mobility component rates will increase as follows:

• The higher rate: £75.75 a week to £77.05 a week
• The lower rate: £28.70 a week to £29.20 a week

Pension Credit

Pension credit tops up the income of people over state pension age. Recipients can also access other things, such as as council tax discounts and free TV licences for over-75s. There are also additional elements available if you're a carer, you're disabled, you look after children, or if you have savings and reached state pension age before April 2016.

Standard minimum guarantee

• Single: £218.15 a week to £227.10 a week
• Couple: £332.95 a week to £346.60 a week

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

PIP is a benefit for adults of working age who have an illness, disability or mental health condition. It has a daily living rate component and a mobility rate component - you can be entitled to one of these or both depending on your situation.

Daily living

• Lower rate: £72.65 a week to £73.90 a week
• Higher rate: £108.55 a week to £110.40 a week

Mobility

• Lower rate: £28.70 a week to £29.20 a week
• Higher rate: £75.75 a week to £77.05 a week

State Pension

Men born on or after April 6, 1951, and women born on or after April 6, 1953 are able to claim the new state pension. People born before these dates are only entitled to the basic state pension payments.

• Full new state pension: £221.20 a week to £230.25 a week
• Full old basic state pension: £169.50 a week to £176.45 a week

For a breakdown of the specific dates when the changes will come into force, click here. To see a full breakdown of changes and benefit caps, visit the gov.uk website.