Millions of Brits who claim the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will see their payments permanently increased starting this month.
Although benefits are increased on an annual basis, this year’s hike is heftier than usual to match the soaring inflation rates seen in the past year.
During his Autumn Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt revealed that he would boost benefits in line with inflation to “protect the most vulnerable” during the cost-of-living crisis.
Based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate for last September, ESA and other benefits including the state pension have gone up by 10.1 per cent.
While the Government is planning to replace “legacy benefits” like the ESA with Universal Credit, the shift is not set to take place until 2024, given the amount of work needed for the change.
Here is what you can expect from the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) payments going forward:
- Single people under 25 — £67.20 per week (previously £61.05)
- Single people 25 or over — £84.80 per week (previously £77)
- ESA for lone parent under 18 — £67.20 per week (previously £61.05)
- ESA for lone parent 18 or over — £84.80 per week (previously £77)
- ESA for couples both under 18 — £67.20 per week (previously £61.05)
- ESA for couples both under 18 with child — £101.50 per week (previously £92.20)
- ESA for couples both under 18 (main phase) — £84.80 per week (previously £77)
- ESA for couples both under 18 with child (main phase) — £133.30 per week (previously £121.05)
- ESA for couples one 18 or over, one under 18 (certain conditions apply) — £133.30 per week (previously £121.05)
- ESA for couples both over 18 — £133.30 per week (previously £121.05)
- ESA for couples in which claimant is under 25 and partner is under 18 — £67.20 per week (previously £61.05)
- ESA for couples in which claimant is 25 or over and partner is under 18 — £84.80 per week (previously £77)
- ESA for couples in which claimant (main phase), and partner is under 18 — £84.80 per week (previously £77)
To get a full understanding of the Government’s benefit rate increases for the 2023 - 2024 financial year, you can check out the official Benefits and Pension Rates webpage.
