Benefits and pensions are going up from today, Monday, April 11, but people across the country will be left worse off. That's because while the amount you get is going up by 3.1% inflation - the rate everything is getting more expensive by, is already much higher and could hit 10% by October.
The basic Universal Credit rate rises by £10.07 a month and state pensions by £5.55 a week, reports ChronicleLive. The rises are calculated based on inflation back in September 2021, which was 3.1%. But inflation has now hit more than 6%
According to Mirror Online, the Office for Budget Responsibility says this is a £12billion fall in the real value of benefits in 2022-23. Dan Paskins, Director of UK Impact at the charity, said: "A 3.1% rise to benefits when inflation will peak at 8% just doesn’t add up for struggling families.
"They now face having to make up shortfalls of hundreds of pounds this year as a result of this real terms cut. "For many, energy price hikes alone will swallow up any extra income. In terms of meeting day to day costs, it won’t even touch the sides."
Here are the new rates in full:
DWP benefit and pension payment rates from Monday April 11, 2022
Weekly rates are shown, unless otherwise stated.
Attendance Allowance
- Higher rate: £92.40 (from £89.60)
- Lower rate: £61.85 (from £60.00)
Carer’s Allowance
- April 2022 rate: £69.70 (from £67.60)
Disability Living Allowance
Care Component
- Highest: £92.40 (from £89.60)
- Middle: £61.85 (from £60.00
- Lowest: £24.45 (from £23.70)
Mobility component
- Higher: £64.50 (from £62.55)[;
- Lower: £24.45 (from £23.70)
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Under 25: £61.05 (from £59.20)
- 25 or over: £77.00 (from £74.70)
Housing Benefit
Your personal allowance is used to help calculate how much housing benefit you may be entitled to.
Single person (personal allowance)
- Under 25: £61.05 (from £59.20)
- Aged 25 and between State Pension age: £77.00 (from £74.70)
- Entitled to main phase ESA: £77.00 (from £74.70)
- Has reached State Pension age: £197.10 (from £191.15)
Lone parent (personal allowance)
- Under 25: £61.05 (from £59.20)
- Aged 25 and between State Pension age: £77.00 (from £74.70)
- Entitled to main phase ESA: £77.00 (from £74.70)
- Has reached State Pension age: £197.10 (from £191.15)
Couple (personal allowance)
- Both aged under 18: £92.20 (from £89.45)
- One or both aged between 18 and state pension credit age: £121.05 (from £117.40)
- Any age and on main phase ESA: £121.05 (from £117.40)
- One or both have reached pension age: £294.90 from £286.05)
Incapacity Benefit (long-term)
- April 2022 rate: £118.25 (from £114.70)
Income Support
- Under 25: £61.05 (from £59.20)
- 25 or over: £77.00 from (£74.70)
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Contributions based
- Under 25: £61.05 (from £59.20)
- 25 or over: £77.00 (from £74.70)
Income-based
- Under 25: £61.05 (from £59.20)
- 25 or over: £77.00 (from £74.70)
Maternity/Paternity/Shared Parental Allowance
- Standard rate: £156.66 (from £151.97)
Pension Credit
- Single: £182.60 (from £177.10)
- Couple: £278.70 (from £270.30)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Daily Living Component
- Enhanced: £92.40 (from £89.60)
- Standard: £61.85 (from £60.00)
Mobility Component
- Enhanced: £64.50 (from £62.55)
- Standard: £24.45 (from £23.70)
State Pension
- Full New State Pension: £185.15 (from £179.60)
- Basic Old State Pension (Category A or B): £141.85 (from £137.60)
Widow’s Pension
- Standard rate: £126.35 (from £122.55)
Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay
- Standard rate: £156.66 (from £151.97)
Statutory Sick Pay
- Standard rate: £99.35 (from £96.35)
Universal Credit (monthly rates shown)
Standard allowance
Single
- Single under 25: £265.31 (from £257.33)
- Single 25 or over: £334.91 (from £324.84)
Couple
- Joint claimants both under 25: £416.45 (from £403.93)
- Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £525.72 (from £509.91)
Child Elements
- First child (born prior to 6 April 2017): £290.00 (from £282.60)
- First child (born on or after 6 April 2017) or second child and subsequent child (where an exception or transitional provision applies): £244.58 (from £237.08)
For the full list of DWP increases to benefits and the State Pension, visit the Gov.uk website.
