Four DWP payments and benefits set to increase in a…

Four DWP payments and benefits set to increase in a few days

As we enter a new tax year next week, there are a number of changes being made - including an uplift to certain DWP payments and benefits. As mentioned in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's autumn statement, benefit and pension rates for 2023/24 will go up 10.1 per cent in line with inflation.

He also announced the National Living Wage for over-23s will be increased from £9.50 an hour to £10.42. The rise in living wage is set to go ahead from April. Housing benefit is due to go up too, from April 1 if you pay monthly and from April 3 if you pay weekly.

Statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and parental bereavement pay will increase as well, from the current rate of £156.66 per week to £172.48 per week in 2023/24. Statutory sick pay will rise to £109.40 per week, up from £99.35 per week.

It comes as the cost of living crisis continues to put a squeeze on people's budgets, with cost of household, energy, food, fuel and retail bills through the roof. However, the financial uprates will be warmly welcomed by many struggling to make ends meet.

As reported by Manchester Evening News, here are four payments and DWP benefits which will go up from next week.

Minimum/Living wage

The baseline minimum wage will increase for all age groups in the UK. Depending on your age and work status, you will receive one of the following increases:

National Living Wage - Increased to £10.42 (annual increase of 9.7 per cent)
21-22-year-old rate - Increased to £10.18 (annual increase of 10.9 per cent)
18-20-year-old rate - Increased to £7.49 (annual increase of 9.7 per cent)
16-17 year-old rate - Increased to £5.28 (annual increase of 9.7 per cent)
Apprentice Rate - Increased to £5.28 (annual increase of 9.7 per cent)
Accommodation Offset - Increased to £9.10 (annual increase of 4.6 per cent)

Maternity, paternity, and statutory sick pay

Maternity, paternity, and statutory sick pay will receive an increase of 10 per cent from April 2. This will result in a rise from £99.35 per week to £109.40 per week.

Statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental bereavement

An increase from £156.66 to £172.48 will be provided for the statutory rates for maternity, adoption, paternity, and shared parental pay. Meanwhile, payments for parental bereavement will also increase by the same amount.

Housing Benefit Support

If you’re single, housing benefits will increase as follows:

For under 25s, it’ll rise from £61.05 to £67.22
If you’re on main phase ESA, from £77 to £84.78
For those aged between 25 and state pension credit age, from £77 to £84.78
For anyone who has reached pension age, £197.10 to £217

For lone parents:

If you’re under 18, payments will increase from £61.05 to £67.22
If you’re on main phase ESA, from £77 to £84.78
If you’re aged between 18 and state pension credit age, from £77 to £84.78
If you’ve reached state pension age, from £197.10 to £217

For couples:

If both are aged under 18, payments will go up from £92.20 to £101.51
If one or both are aged between 18 and state pension credit age, from £121.05 to £133.27
If you’re on main phase ESA, from £121.05 to £133.27
If one or both have reached pension age, from £294.90 to £324.68

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