Parents get an extra hand from the Government as DWP raises maternity allowance and parental pay

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that among the benefits receiving a boost in April will be maternity allowance and maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay. The new rates will take effect on April 10 2023.

Benefits across the board will be uprated by 10.1%, in line with the rate of inflation as of September 2022. The Chancellor announced the decision to boost these payments in his November Budget.

As well as the likes of Universal Credit, PIP and the state pension, parents will see a slight increase, too. Maternity allowance and statutory maternity pay is also being increased.

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Maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay

The statutory rates for maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental pay will all increase from £156.66 to £172.48. Payments for parental bereavement will also go up by the same amounts.

Maternity allowance

This will benefit new mums who don't qualify for standard maternity pay. If you qualify, payments will rise from £156.66 a week to £172.48 from April 2023.

Universal Credit

Parents on Universal Credit will also be seeing a slight increase in their payments from April.

• For those with a first child born before April 6, 2017, the extra amount is going up from £290 to £319.29.

• For those with a child born on or after April 6 2017, or a second child and subsequent child, the extra amount is going up from £244.58 to £269.28.

• If you have a disabled child and receive a lower rate addition, your payment will increase from £132.89 to £146.31.

• If you have a disabled child and receive a higher rate addition, your payment will increase from £414.88 to £456.78.

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