Benefits: UK benefits rise in April 2026 – list of payments, including disability and unemployment benefits
From Universal Credit to the state pension, new rates kick in this spring 💷
- Millions of households will see benefits rise from April 2026 after MPs approved new rates
- Most working-age benefits and tax credits will increase by 3.8%
- Universal Credit’s standard allowance will get an extra 2.3% uplift on top
- State pensions will rise by 4.8% under the triple lock
- The changes form part of a £9 billion boost to welfare spending in 2026/27
Millions of households claiming benefits are set to see their payments rise from April 2026, after MPs confirmed a 3.8% increase to most working-age benefits and tax credits.
The changes, which come into force from April 6, 2026 for the 2026/27 tax year, mean higher payments for those on Universal Credit, disability benefits and carers’ support. State pensions will rise even more sharply, by 4.8%, under the triple lock.
.jpeg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=65)
What’s increasing by 3.8%?
Inflation-linked working-age benefits and tax credits will rise by 3.8%. This applies to:
- Attendance Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Child Benefit
- Child Tax Credit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Pension Credit (which will rise by more than inflation overall)
- Personal Independence Payment
- Universal Credit (all elements)
- Working Tax Credit
On top of the 3.8% increase, the Universal Credit standard allowance will receive an additional 2.3% uplift
That means the basic amount you receive before extras for housing, children or disability will rise by more than inflation.
For claimants of any of the above benefits, the increases should appear automatically from April, meaning there is no need to reapply.
State pension rising by 4.8%
Separate legislation confirmed that state pensions will increase by 4.8% from April 2026, in line with average wage growth (Average Weekly Earnings for May to July 2025).
This means the New State Pension is rising from £230.25 to £241.30 per week, an increase of £11.05 a week. Over a year, that’s worth around £574 extra for someone on the full new state pension.
The Basic State Pension is rising from £176.45 to £184.90 per week, an increase of £8.45 a week.
The rise follows the triple lock, which guarantees the state pension increases each year by whichever is highest: inflation, wage growth or 2.5%.
What the changes mean overall
Work and pensions minister Stephen Timms said the uprating commits the Government to an additional £9 billion in spending in 2026/27.
Of that, £6 billion will go towards state pensions and pensioner benefits, £2 billion will support disability and carers’ benefits, and £1 billion will go to other working-age benefits.
The Government says the changes maintain the triple lock, increase support for carers and disabled people, and boost the “safety net” provided by Pension Credit beyond the rate of price rises.