This hub tracks Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit rates from 6 April 2026, the start of the 2026/27 benefit year. It covers Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Pension Credit, Carer's Allowance, and the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) reform that takes effect for new claimants from this April. Primary source: the DWP's annual Benefit and pension rates publication (April 2026 edition).

Universal Credit standard allowances

From 6 April 2026, the monthly Universal Credit standard allowance increased to:

  • Single, under 25: £338.58 per month, up from £316.98.
  • Single, 25 or over: £424.90 per month, up from £400.14.
  • Joint claimants, both under 25: £528.34 per month, up from £497.55.
  • Joint claimants, both 25 or over: £666.97 per month, up from £628.10.

Standard allowances were uprated by 1.7% for 2026/27 in line with the September 2025 CPI figure. The uprating applies automatically to existing claimants from the first assessment period that ends on or after 6 April 2026.

LCWRA element: the 2026 cut for new claimants

The Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) element of Universal Credit has been roughly halved for people who become entitled to it from April 2026 onwards. The headline change:

  • Existing LCWRA claimants (protected group): the element stays at its previous full rate. The combined rate of standard allowance plus health element is set to rise at least in line with inflation each year from 2026/27 to 2029/30.
  • New LCWRA claimants from April 2026: the element is cut from £432.27 per month to £217.26 per month. This new rate is then frozen each year through to 2029/30.

The change does not affect Universal Credit claimants who were already receiving the LCWRA element before 6 April 2026. It also does not affect the standard allowance, the housing element, the child elements, or the carer element.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

PIP rates rose by 3.8% from 6 April 2026, in line with September 2025 CPI inflation. Weekly payments now range from £30.30 to £194.60 depending on the daily living and mobility components awarded.

  • Daily living, enhanced rate: £114.60 per week (up from £110.40).
  • Daily living, standard rate: £76.65 per week.
  • Mobility, enhanced rate: £80.00 per week.
  • Mobility, standard rate: £30.30 per week.

The maximum weekly award (enhanced daily living plus enhanced mobility) is £194.60, equivalent to £778.40 every four weeks or roughly £10,120 a year.

State Pension

The new and basic State Pensions rose by 4.8% in April 2026 under the triple lock, set by the September 2025 average earnings figure. The basic State Pension is £181.40 per week and the new State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016) is £236.95 per week. Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, and Carer's Allowance also rose with the standard April uprating.

How to check your specific entitlement

Award letters for the 2026/27 rates are issued automatically. To check your own award:

  • Log in to your Universal Credit journal or your PIP online account on gov.uk to see the new monthly amount.
  • Use the Turn2us benefits calculator or the EntitledTo calculator for a free check on what you should be entitled to under the new rates.
  • If you think your award is wrong, contact the Citizens Advice Help to Claim service or your local Citizens Advice for a free appointment.
  • For PIP queries call the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433. For Universal Credit issues use the journal first; if a journal message goes unanswered for more than 10 working days, ask for it to be escalated.

What is not changing

  • The benefit cap. The annual benefit cap stays at £25,323 for couples and lone parents outside Greater London, and £29,116 inside Greater London. Single people without children are capped at £16,967 outside London and £19,467 inside London.
  • The two-child limit. The Universal Credit two-child limit on the child element remains in force.
  • Cost of Living Payments. The one-off Cost of Living Payment scheme has not been extended into 2026/27. There are no further automatic cost-of-living lump sums scheduled.

Where to read the official numbers