While most benefits will rise by just 1.7%, pensioners will see their payments jump by 4.1%
From April, millions of Brits on benefits will experience a rise in their payments, with state pensioners set to receive a significantly larger increase. While most benefits will see a modest 1.7% hike, pensioners’ payments will leap by 4.1%, meaning retirees are receiving over double the increase compared to Universal Credit and other benefits.
Consequently, working-age adults on benefits will see an increase below the current inflation rate of 2.5%, while pensioners will be financially better off. The increases aim to assist households struggling with escalating food, energy, and household costs. However, critics argue that the benefits boost lags behind inflation and the support given to pensioners.
From April 2025, Universal Credit claimants will notice a slight increase in their payments:
Single people under 25: £311.68 → £316.98.
Single people 25 and over: £393.45 → £400.14.
Joint claimants both under 25: £489.23 → £497.55.
Joint claimants where one or both are 25 or over: £617.60 → £628.09.
Additional support for parents, carers, and disabled individuals will also change as follows:
First child born before April 6, 2017: £333.33 → £338.99.
Other children: £287.92 → £292.81.
Disabled child (lower rate): £156.11 → £158.76.
Disabled child (higher rate): £487.58 → £495.86.
Limited capability for work: £156.11 → £158.76.
Limited capability for work and work-related activity: £416.19 → £423.27.
Carers providing 35+ hours per week: £198.31 → £201.68.
Housing Benefit and other allowances are set to change. For a single person of pension age, the amount will increase from £235.20 to £239.20. For couples where one or both are of pension age, the amount will rise from £352 to £357.98. The allowance for a dependent child will go up from £83.24 to £84.66.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment Support Allowance (ESA), and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) payments are also due to rise by 1.7%. The enhanced daily living PIP will increase from £108.55 to £110.40, while the standard rate will go from £72.65 to £73.89.
Enhanced mobility will rise from £75.75 to £77.04, and the standard rate will increase from £28.70 to £29.19. Carer’s Allowance will see an increase from £81.90 to £83.29 per week. Child Benefit for the eldest child will rise from £25.60 to £26.04, and for additional children, it will increase from £16.95 to £17.24. Maternity/Paternity Pay will increase from £184.03 to £187.16, and Statutory Sick Pay will rise from £116.75 to £118.73.
Pensioners will see a larger rise of 4.1%, equating to an annual boost of £473, compared to the smaller increases for those on Universal Credit and other benefits. The full new state pension will increase from £221.20 to £230.27 per week, and the basic state pension will rise from £169.50 to £176.45 per week.
What’s staying the same?
Despite the increases, some benefits remain frozen:
The Benefit Cap will stay at £25,323 a year for couples in London and £22,020 outside.
Savings limits for benefits remain at £6,000 (lower) and £16,000 (upper).
Local Housing Allowance rates will stay at 2024 levels despite rising rents.
Charities like Turn2Us and Entitled to offer free benefits calculators to check if you’re eligible for extra support. With the cost of living still high, it’s worth checking what you could claim. Details can be found here and here. While any increase is welcome, many households will still be struggling—especially as pensioners enjoy a far larger rise than those on Universal Credit and other benefits.
