The UK Government is asking the public for views on proposals that would allow people to prove their identity online using a single digital ID rather than repeatedly verifying details for different services

A new UK Government consultation on establishing a national digital identity system could transform how individuals access benefits, tax services and other state support in the future.

The UK Government is seeking public feedback on proposals that would enable people to verify their identity online using a single digital ID rather than repeatedly confirming their details for different services.

Ministers say the objective is to streamline how people interact with the state and make public services more accessible online. Under the proposals, a secure digital identity could be used to confirm personal details when accessing services provided by departments including the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

This could include accessing tax accounts, managing benefit claims or confirming eligibility for government support.

The consultation suggests a digital identity system could allow people to verify their identity once and then reuse it across multiple government services, reports the Daily Record.

Advocates say this could reduce the need for repeated identity checks, paperwork and in-person appointments when dealing with different government departments.

However, nearly three million people signed an online petition urging the UK Government not to introduce digital IDs. The petition was debated in Parliament on December 8, 2025.

Identity verification is currently one of the biggest barriers people face when applying for benefits or accessing online services. Claimants are frequently asked to upload documentation, respond to security questions or attend verification appointments before their applications can be approved.

A digital ID system could simplify those checks by enabling individuals to securely verify their identity through a government-approved digital account.

The UK Government states the objective is to make interacting with public services as simple as using online banking.

Officials say the system would be voluntary and created to give individuals greater control over how their personal data is managed.

The consultation also emphasises how digital identity could help cut fraud and impersonation scams targeting government services.

Fraud involving stolen identities has become a growing concern for authorities, particularly in areas such as benefit claims and tax refunds.

Through secure digital verification, ministers believe it may become more difficult for criminals to impersonate others or access accounts fraudulently.

Nevertheless, digital identity proposals have historically proved controversial in the UK, with concerns raised about privacy, data protection and the potential creation of a national identity system.

Earlier attempts to introduce national ID cards were abandoned following political opposition and concerns about government databases.

The consultation will ask members of the public, technology experts and civil society groups how a new digital identity system should operate and what safeguards should be included. If implemented, the system could potentially be utilised across a broad spectrum of government services, assisting individuals in managing everything from tax matters to benefit claims via a single verified identity.

Ministers have stated that the consultation will aid in shaping the development of the system prior to any consideration of legislation or broader implementation.

The public are invited to submit their opinions on the proposals before the consultation period ends on 5 May 2026.

The ‘Making public services work for you with your digital identity’ consultation can be viewed on GOV.UK.

The DWP has been urged to increase Cold Weather Payments from £25 to £40 or £50 as energy bills remain high and the current amount ‘barely scratches the surface’ of heating costs for millions of benefit claimants

The DWP has been urged to increase the payment amounts for a particular scheme. The programme is accessible to millions of benefit claimants, including those on Universal Credit and Pension Credit.

The Cold Weather Payments scheme offers £25 payments when temperatures in your area drop to, or are forecast to fall, below zero degrees Celsius for seven consecutive days. You could receive multiple £25 payments into your bank account through the scheme if the payments are triggered in your specific location more than once during a five-month period.

The scheme runs from November 1 to March 31. People claiming these six benefits may qualify for the payment into their bank account:

Given the rising cost of living, one question is whether the £25 amount should be increased. Matthew Sheeran, external relations manager at finance support organisation Money Wellness, warned that £25 “just doesn’t go very far anymore”.

He said: “Energy bills are still high, and for many households, that amount barely scratches the surface of a week’s heating costs. Increasing it to around £40 or £50 would make a much more meaningful difference for people trying to keep their homes warm.”

Raising the payments to £40 would mean an additional £15 each time whil lifting it to £50 would add another £25 to the payments, reports the Mirror.

When are Cold Weather Payments issued?

Regarding when Cold Weather Payments are deposited into accounts, the Government website specifies: “After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days. It’s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.”

For those living in Scotland, the payments scheme has been replaced by the Winter Heating Payment, which has broadly the same eligibility criteria concerning which benefits you must claim. This is a one-off sum that’s distributed regardless of weather conditions, and is valued at £59.75. Payments are made between December and the end of February.

Sharp energy bills rise

A recent development causing concern for bill payers is the escalating price of oil due to the conflict in Iran. This has already significantly increased the cost of heating oil.

Mr Sheeran described the sudden price surge as “really worrying”. He explained: “They’ve jumped massively in a very short space of time because of the conflict in the Middle East, with most quotes now more than double what they were just weeks ago. In some areas, a typical 500 litre delivery is hundreds of pounds more expensive than before.

He explained: “That’s a huge hit for the millions of households off the gas grid who rely on oil for heat and hot water. And they’re not protected by the energy price cap, so every crude oil spike feeds straight through to their bills.”

He offered some guidance for those affected by this unexpected rise in expenses. The consumer expert advised: “If you’re in that position, it’s worth seeing if you can join a local oil buying group to get a better price, check whether you qualify for schemes like the Warm Home Discount or the Household Support Fund, and ask your supplier about spreading the cost. But this sudden squeeze really highlights how vulnerable off‐grid and rural households are when energy prices go up.”

The State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 for people born in the early 1960s, with the gradual increase starting in April 2026

Millions of workers are being encouraged to verify their State Pension age as the long-anticipated increase from 66 to 67 commences next month. The adjustment means individuals born in the early 1960s may not retire at 66 as many anticipated.

Instead, their State Pension age will incrementally rise depending on their precise date of birth. Under the current schedule, the State Pension age will rise from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and March 2028.

Those born between April 6, 1960 and March 5, 1961 will see their retirement age extended beyond 66, with the exact age contingent on when they were born. For some, this could mean waiting several additional months before they can begin receiving their State Pension.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging people nearing retirement to check their State Pension age so they know precisely when they will become eligible for payments, reports the Daily Record. Officials highlight that many still presume the State Pension automatically starts at 66, but this will no longer be the case for those impacted by the latest increase.

Another crucial point is that the State Pension does not commence automatically – individuals must actively claim it when they reach State Pension age. The Pension Service typically sends an invitation letter around four months prior to someone reaching their State Pension age, explaining how to make a claim.

However, the DWP emphasises the importance of individuals checking their own retirement age to plan ahead and avoid any confusion about when they will start receiving payments.

Determining your State Pension age is straightforward and can be done online by inputting your date of birth into the UK Government’s official State Pension age calculator.

The current full rate of the New State Pension stands at £230.25 a week – set to increase to £241.30 from 6 April – although the precise amount someone receives is dependent on their National Insurance record.

To receive the full New State Pension, most people require approximately 35 qualifying years of National Insurance Contributions (NICs), whilst those with fewer years may receive a reduced amount. A minimum of 10 years of NICs is needed to qualify for any State Pension payments.

The rise in the State Pension age is part of the UK Government’s long-term plans, designed to reflect increasing life expectancy and the escalating cost of pension provision.

Further increases are already scheduled, with the State Pension age anticipated to rise again to 68 in the mid-2040s, although the exact timetable for this change remains under review.

For now, officials state that the priority is ensuring people nearing retirement understand when they will become eligible for the State Pension and how to claim it.

Anyone uncertain about when they will receive their State Pension can verify their exact retirement age through the government’s online service by entering their date of birth.

A new report shows the main reasons pensioners are not claiming their DWP Pension Credit entitlement worth an average of £4,300 a year

Numerous Brits could be losing out on thousands of pounds annually after turning 66 due to a crucial DWP benefit. This is reportedly due to ’embarrassment’, misunderstanding eligibility criteria, and a general lack of awareness.

A recent report has shed light on the misconceptions preventing pensioners from claiming what they are rightfully owed. Pension Credit is an essential support for individuals over the state pension age who have a low income.

It offers additional funds and other benefits such as council tax reductions, free TV licences for those over 75, and assistance with NHS dental treatment.

A new Verian report identified the primary obstacle preventing people from claiming their entitlement was a widespread belief that they were not eligible for various reasons. Some common, yet incorrect, assumptions included the notion that PIP, savings or your partner’s employment status rendered them ineligible.

The main eligibility criteria for Pension Credit stipulate that you must be over the state pension age, reside in England, Scotland or Wales, and have a low income which is typically capped at £227.10 per week for individuals and £346.60 per week for couples. However, you may still qualify if your income exceeds this limit if you have a disability, savings, housing costs or care responsibilities, reports the Mirror.

You can have up to £10,000 in savings and investments without it affecting your Pension Credit. Each £500 above this limit will be treated as £1 a week in your income calculations, meaning you can still qualify for the benefit with savings exceeding this amount.

The report identified two other key issues preventing people from accessing their entitlement: a lack of awareness, with many stating they had ‘never heard’ of Pension Credit and its associated benefits. Another common barrier was the stigma surrounding claiming benefits and state support, which made people reluctant to apply.

It left people feeling ‘too proud’ and ’embarrassed’ to seek support sooner. DWP analysis last October revealed fewer than 70% of eligible pensioners in England, Scotland and Wales were claiming their Pension Credit entitlement.

Those who had submitted their claim were receiving £82.71 each week on average or £4,300 a year. Pension Credit provides you with extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also assist with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

If you are eligible for Pension Credit but may not receive payments from it, for example if your savings are too high, it may still be worthwhile making your claim in order to access the associated benefits it provides. Other common reasons the report found for eligible individuals not claiming Pension Credit included some who felt they were managing financially.

One recipient over the age of 75 who was entitled to the benefit but not claiming it said: “With the position I’m in, if there’s a fund out there for more deserving people, they should be the one to receive it… if they need it more than me, I think they should have priority.”

Others had a distrust around receiving government support, as one new Pension Credit recipient over the age of 75 said: “I was wary of claiming for it because I didn’t know if it would affect my pension… if the government gives you some money, they usually take it off you somewhere else.”

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is in the final stages of moving claimants from older so-called ‘legacy’ benefits onto Universal Credit

Two long-standing benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will cease on March 31 as the UK Government finalises the last phase of transitioning claimants from older ‘legacy’ benefits to Universal Credit.

Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) are being phased out as part of the ongoing ‘Managed Migration’ programme, which aims to transition individuals from older benefits to the newer Universal Credit system.

The DWP has already dispatched over 1.8 million Migration Notices to claimants who need to switch benefits as the programme nears its conclusion. It is anticipated that most people affected by these changes will have completed their move to Universal Credit by the end of March 2026.

Under the managed migration process, claimants who receive a Migration Notice are required to apply for Universal Credit within a specified deadline. Those who fail to submit a claim in time could see their existing benefits halted.

The transition of individuals receiving Income Support and income-based JSA is nearly complete, according to the DWP. These two benefits will officially terminate at the end of March as the government continues its broader reform of the welfare system, reports the Daily Record.

However, ministers have agreed to a brief extension for some cases involving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The Department states that many ESA claims are more complex and necessitate additional support to ensure people transition safely to Universal Credit.

Universal Credit is progressively replacing six legacy benefits, including Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

The UK Government states the new system is designed to simplify the benefits system by combining several payments into a single monthly payment.

The managed migration process has been operating for several years and involves contacting claimants directly when it is their turn to move onto Universal Credit. The DWP sends letters explaining what action people need to take and provides support for those who need help with the application process.

Officials state that ensuring claimants move safely to the new system remains a priority as the programme nears completion.

Claimants who are uncertain whether they will need to move to Universal Credit can check their circumstances through official guidance on GOV.UK or wait to receive a Migration Notice from the DWP.

The UK Government has stated it remains committed to completing the migration programme in the coming months as the final legacy benefits are phased out.

Claimants who receive a Migration Notice from the DWP must apply for Universal Credit by the deadline stated in the letter. If they do not make a claim in time, their existing benefit payments could stop.

The Department for Work and Pensions has appointed a steering group of 12 members with lived experience of disability to lead the first comprehensive review of Personal Independence Payment

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that disabled people will be at the heart of the first ever comprehensive review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), with the appointment of 12 members to its steering group. The selected members will bring personal experience of disability or long-term health conditions, as well as direct experience of working within Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs).

DWP Minister Sir Stephen Timms informed Parliament on Monday that the PIP review is currently “under way at the moment”. He told MPs: “We have a steering group of 12 individuals, almost all of whom are disabled people, plus me and two other co-chairs, and we had our third full-day, in-person meeting last week.”

The group’s experience spans welfare policy, accessibility and advocacy, and includes members with a background in co-production, governance, and leadership. The group will provide strategic direction and help set priorities and a work plan for the Timms Review, alongside the Review’s three co-chairs – Sir Stephen Timms, Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE.

The group will examine the role of PIP in enabling disabled people to achieve better health and live independent lives, the PIP assessment criteria for daily living and mobility and how the assessment could provide access to the right support across the benefits system.

Claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have surged in recent years. In 2019, there were two million working-age people receiving PIP, but that figure has risen to over 3.9 million by the end of October 2025, reports the Daily Record.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has projected that the number of PIP claimants will surpass four million by the close of the decade.

The aim of the Timms Review is to ensure that PIP is equitable and future-proof – accurately representing individuals’ conditions and their aspirations, whilst considering societal changes since its inception.

The DWP noted that since the introduction of PIP in 2013, there have been evolving trends in long-term health conditions and disability. More individuals are living with a disability, yet the rise in the number receiving disability benefits is twice the rate of increasing prevalence among working-age adults in England and Wales.

It’s crucial to note that in Scotland, PIP has been superseded by Adult Disability Payment, and the Scottish Government has previously declared it has no intentions to reform the devolved benefit.

The Timms Review is set to report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Autumn 2026, with an interim update anticipated before then.

Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, recently stated: “Disabled people deserve a system that truly supports them to live with independence and dignity, and that fairly reflects the reality of their lives today.

“That’s why we’re putting disabled people at the heart of this Review – ensuring their voices shape the changes that will help them achieve better health, greater independence, and access to the right support when they need it.

“We’re delighted to announce the appointment of the steering group members, who alongside myself and the Review’s co-chairs will report back to the Secretary of State in the Autumn.”

Co-chair Sharon Brennan stated: “The group we have chosen shows our commitment to ensuring this review is co produced with people from a diversity of backgrounds including lived and living experience, protected characteristics, geographies and professions.

“But 15 people can’t represent everyone, which is why our work will be part of a wider engagement process to ensure we hear from many more voices throughout the review.”

Co-chair Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE commented: “Personal Independence Payment plays a vital role in enabling disabled people to live independent lives. This Review will listen closely to lived experience, test whether the system is fair, and ensure PIP reflects the realities of disability in the modern world.”

A coalition of charities has welcomed the inclusion of disabled people in the steering group, but warned “it cannot become about making cuts”.

The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) – a coalition of over 100 charities, including the MS Society, Scope, Parkinson’s UK and Mencap – has stated that the review provides an opportunity for “real change” to a system of assessments which are “not only stressful, they fail to recognise the impact of fluctuating and progressive conditions like MS – often denying people the support they need to live independently”.

Charles Gillies, DBC policy co-chair and senior policy officer at the MS Society, described it as “undeniably positive that most members of the new steering group have lived experience of disability or claiming Pip”.

He further commented: “This review must now engage meaningfully with the steering group and disabled people more generally, and remain laser-focused on improving the fairness of PIP assessments – or we risk this vital opportunity being wasted. And crucially, it cannot become about making cuts.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves provided an update about state pension changes

State pensioners could suddenly find themselves liable for a new tax bill. An MP has voiced concerns that some claimants may have “no idea” they will soon be required to complete an HMRC form to pay a tax bill.

The update follows Dr Luke Evans, MP for Bosworth, asking Chancellor Rachel Reeves about the issue of increasing numbers of state pensioners becoming income tax payers. After the Chancellor delivered her Spring Statement, Mr Evans asked: “I want to raise the issue of the freezing of thresholds and the effect on the state pension.

“When the Chancellor did it in her Budget, she told Martin Lewis that some people would be pulled into paying tax and won’t have to pay small amounts of tax and won’t have to do a tax return. The updated [OBR] forecast now says this year 600,000 pensioners will be drawn into paying tax, and going up to a one million by the end of this Parliament.

“Could she set out what the definition is of small amounts of tax and what the mechanism is she will use to make sure they don’t have to do a tax return?”

This question pertains to a new policy announced in the Autumn Budget 2025. The Government has announced plans to implement reforms to ensure individuals “whose sole income is the basic or new state pension without any increments…do not have to pay small amounts of tax via simple assessment from 2027-28 if the new or basic state pension exceeds the personal allowance from that point”.

From April 2027, the full new state pension will consume the entire £12,570 personal allowance and tip over the threshold that triggers a tax liability. The allowance allows you to earn up to £12,570 annually tax-free, with the full new state pension currently paying £230.25 weekly, equivalent to £11,973 per year.

With state pension payments rising by 4.8 per cent this April due to the triple lock, an increasing number of people with additional income streams such as a private pension will breach the income tax threshold, reports the Mirror.

Those on the full new state pension alone also face paying income tax from April 2027. Ms Reeves responded to Dr Evans’ enquiry: “As I said after the Budget last year, if you just get the basic state pension you will not be paying tax. We will be setting out more details of that in the coming months.”

Dr Evans has now issued a renewed appeal for the Government to set out how these tax changes will work. The Conservative MP warned: “Many pensioners simply do not realise they could soon be paying tax on their state pension. For some, being dragged into filling out tax returns will come as a huge and unwelcome shock. The Chancellor needs to urgently explain how she plans to prevent this.”

He said he has spoken with people in his Leicestershire constituency about the issue. The MP stated: “I’ve spoken to pensioners in my constituency who understand the impact of freezing the threshold, but I fear many others, including some of the most vulnerable, have no idea this is coming. Worst still, with all the policy kite flying before the Budget, many took out their pension as a lump sum to avoid a tax which never materialised.

“Rachel Reeves herself has said she does not want pensioners who rely solely on the state pension paying ‘tiny amounts of tax’ and that the Government is ‘working on a solution’. Yet that was in November – it is now March, and the Government’s own analysis shows 600,000 pensioners are on the hook. It’s time the Treasury set out exactly what that solution is, urgently.”

Senior officials from HMRC were questioned by the Treasury Committee in January 2026 regarding how the proposed tax changes will work. Cerys McDonald, director of Individuals Policy at HMRC, said there are between 800,000 and a million pensioners whose sole income is the state pension.

She informed the committee that new legislation would need to be introduced to effect the change. Ms McDonald stated: “We would expect this to go through the next finance bill in the Autumn but we have mobilised a project team already in anticipation of having to make this change.

“The mitigation that we would normally use to recover this tax is simple assessment, normally we wouldn’t be processing that for 2027/2028 until after the 2028 tax year, so we’ve got a decent run in here.”

The Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC have confirmed new benefit payment rates from April 2026 including State Pension, PIP, Universal Credit, Child Benefit and Attendance Allowance

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed proposed new payment rates from April for the State Pension and benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance, Universal Credit, and Carer’s Allowance. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has also confirmed the annual uprating for Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance.

Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance payments will rise in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the year to September 2025, which stands at 3.8 per cent. This means that, from April 2026, the Child Benefit rate for the eldest child will climb from £26.05 to £27.05 per week, while the rate for additional children will increase from £17.25 to £17.90 per week. Guardian’s Allowance will rise from £22.10 to £22.95 per week, reports the Mirror.

As the payments are typically paid every four weeks, this amounts to:

• Child Benefit, eldest child – £108.20
• Child Benefit, additional children – £71.60
• Guardian’s Allowance – £91.80

Tax-Free Childcare

Working families are also being urged to register for Tax-Free Childcare to assist with the approaching school holidays. Paying childcare bills through a Tax-Free Childcare account can save working families up to £2,000 annually for each child up to the age of 11, or £4,000 per year up to the age of 16 if the child has a disability.

Parents can use the scheme to help cover approved childcare expenses, whether that’s nursery fees for younger children, or for older ones – wraparound or after-school care clubs during term time, or holiday clubs for the lengthy summer break ahead.

In June, the UK Government paid out a total of £57.7 million in top-ups to Tax-Free Childcare accounts, meaning each family received, on average, more than £100 to put towards their childcare bills.

Tax-Free Childcare explained

For every £8 deposited into a Tax-Free Childcare account, the UK Government contributes £2, which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child has a disability) every three months to help with their childcare expenses.

Once families have established a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can pay in money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to access whenever needed. Any unused money in the account can be taken out at any time.

HMRC stated it takes just 20 minutes to apply online for a Tax-Free Childcare account. After an account is set up, parents can pay in money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to access whenever needed. Any unused money in the account can be taken out at any time.

Eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare Families could qualify for Tax-Free Childcare if they:

• Have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on September 1 after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they may get up to £4,000 a year until September 1 after their 16th birthday
• Earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average
• Each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
• Do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers

A full list of the eligibility criteria is available on GOV.UK.

Arthritis UK has warned the Work and Pensions Committee that people with arthritis risk missing out on benefits like PIP and Universal Credit as the state pension age increases

Experts have raised concerns about changes to the state pension qualifying rules. MPs discussed the risk of people “underclaiming” and not receiving the full range of DWP benefits they are entitled to.

From April 2026, the age at which you can begin claiming your state pension will rise from the current 66, gradually increasing to 67 by April 2028. Policy experts fear the extended wait could have a significant impact on some individuals, particularly those who have medical conditions.

The Work and Pensions Committee recently discussed the increase in the state pension age. Joe Levenson, assistant director of UK Advocacy and Health Intelligence at charity Arthritis UK, told the MPs: “Everyday, 1,200 people are diagnosed with arthritis, and we know that a significant number of them are unable to work at some stage because of arthritis.

“Around half the people tell us that they struggle to work. Arthritis has an impact on their ability to be employed. That is the context for our worries about the transition to a higher state pension age.”

He said the organisation had conducted a large survey of people with arthritis, which had some concerning findings, reports the Mirror.

Mr Levenson said: “It showed that once people were over the state pension age, they were far less likely to report struggling to get by financially, and almost twice as likely to struggle to get by financially as the cohort immediately before state pension age. I think that speaks volumes.

“It shows we are failing people, and we are worried that people who live with arthritis and many other long-term health conditions are collateral damage in the changes that we have seen, including a rise in state pension age without mitigation.”

He had some suggestions for what extra support should be offered to help people approaching retirement age.

Mr Levenson stated: “Given we know that people approaching state pension age can be at greater risk of poverty, we need to focus on income. Part of that is making sure that people are aware of existing benefits that they can claim.

“We know that there is still underclaiming. We know that that is because of a lack of awareness, but the complications in the system can also be bewildering even to the most well-informed.”

What other benefits can people with arthritis claim?

One form of assistance for individuals of working age living with arthritis is PIP (Personal Independence Payment). This can be claimed to help cover the additional costs associated with living with a long-term health condition, if it impacts either your mobility or your daily living needs.

Through this scheme, you can receive up to £749.80 every four-week pay period. If you’re on a low income, you might also be eligible for Universal Credit.

For those aged 25 and over, this provides £400.14 a month for single claimants or £628.10 for couples, at the standard rate.

Additional amounts may be available depending on your circumstances. Upon reaching state pension age, you may be eligible to apply for Pension Credit, which supplements your income to £227.10 per week for single claimants and up to £346.60 if you have a partner.

Further amounts are available on top of this, such as £82.90 per week if you have a severe disability.

If you have a health condition that affects you to the extent you need someone else to care for you, you may also qualify for Attendance Allowance, which pays £73.90 or £110.40 per week.

The DWP has confirmed that disability benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), will rise by 3.8 per cent in 2026 – here are the new payment rates

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that disability benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance will increase by 3.8 per cent for the 2026/27 financial year. The revised weekly payment rates will come into effect from 6 April 2026.

At present, PIP ranges from £29.20 to £187.45 per week, with payments typically issued every four weeks which equates to awards of between £116.80 and £749.80.

A 3.8 per cent rise will see payments increase to between £30.30 and £194.60, or £121.20 and £778.40 every four-week payment period, according to the Daily Record.

PIP payment rates for 2026/27.

PIP is made up of two components – daily living and mobility. From Monday, 6 April, PIP will be paid at the following amounts per week:, reports the Mirror.

Daily Living component.

• Enhanced: £114.60 (from £110.40)
• Standard: £76.70 (from £73.90)

Mobility component.

• Enhanced: £80.00 (from £77.05)
• Standard: £30.30 (from £29.20)

PIP payment combinations for 2026/27.

Individuals on PIP could receive the lowest rate of one or both parts, the highest rate of one or both parts, or a mixed award of the lower or higher rates of each component.

The DWP will send letters to all claimants before April detailing their new payment rates. There are eight possible awards, these are listed below.

Single component award only.

You may be awarded the lower or higher daily living or mobility component:

• Standard daily living only – £76.70 per week, £306.80 per pay period
• Enhanced daily living only – £114.60 per week, £458.40 per pay period
• Standard mobility only – £30.30 per week, £121.20 per pay period
• Enhanced mobility only – £80.00 per week, £320.00 per pay period

Lower rate for daily living and mobility.

If you are on the lower rates of both components, your new payments are forecast to be:

• Standard daily living and standard mobility – £107 per week, £428 per pay period

Higher rate for daily living and mobility.

If you are on the higher rates of both components, your new payments are forecast to be:

• Enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility – £194.60 per week, £778.40 per pay period

Lower rate of one component and higher rate of the other.

If you are on the lower rate of one component and the higher rate of the other, your new payments are forecast to be:

• Standard daily living and enhanced mobility – £156.70 per week, £626.80 per pay period
• Enhanced daily living and standard mobility – £144.90 per week, £579.60 per pay period

Remember, PIP and all disability benefits are tax-free and do not affect the benefit cap.