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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Linda Howard & Sophie Buchan

UK Government confirms DWP benefits to increase next month amid soaring cost of living

In recent weeks, the UK Government has confirmed that some benefits for millions of households will increase as of next month.

This means that the State Pension and benefits delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) including Universal Credit (UC), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) will increase by 3.1 per cent on April 11 2022.

Updates to the rates were signed off last month in the House of Commons and will change for those receiving State Pension or benefits through the DWP in Scotland as well as England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) - a charity which conducts and funds research aimed at solving poverty in the UK - recently called upon the UK Government to increase all DWP-delivered benefits by seven per cent in line with the current predicted rate of inflation.

It comes after they warned that the increase of 3.1% would result in almost half a million families relying on benefits being plunged into poverty, reports the Daily Record.

The news not only comes with a warning from the JRF but also comes at the same time as household bills begin to soar across the country, with many people noticing their energy and shopping bills already increasing.

In addition to this, employees, employers and the self-employed will need to pay 1.25p more in the pound for National Insurance Contributions from April 2022 - the same month as these changes come into force.

Below is a comprehensive summary of the new DWP payment rates for 2022 to 2023 - here's what you need to know...

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

  • Under 25: £61.05 (from £59.20)
  • 25 or over: £77.00 (from £74.70)
  • Entitled to main phase ESA: £77.00 (from £74.70)

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)

Jobseeker’s Allowance (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

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 proposed DWP increases to benefits and State Pension, visit the GOV.UK website here.

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