What’s Increasing from April?

Every April, most UK benefits increase to keep pace with inflation and rising living costs. This process, known as the annual benefit uprating, is set out each year in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Benefit Uprating Order, usually confirmed in February ahead of the new financial year.

Here’s what to expect from April 2026, including increases to Carer’s Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and Universal Credit, along with a quick look at other key benefits due to rise.

Why Benefits Are Uprated Each April

Each year, the DWP reviews benefit rates based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rate from the previous September. This ensures support keeps pace with prices for essentials such as food, energy, and rent.

The confirmed CPI figure for September 2025 will determine how much benefits rise in April 2026. The official rate will be published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) later this year.

Carer’s Allowance

  • The current rate for Carer’s Allowance is £83.30 per week (2025/26).
  • The earnings limit increased to £196 per week in April 2025 and is expected to rise slightly again in April 2026, depending on wage growth and inflation.
  • Uprating in 2026 will likely follow inflation, meaning carers should see a small but welcome weekly increase.
  • If you already receive Carer’s Allowance, you do not need to reapply, your new rate will be applied automatically.

Read more: Carer’s Allowance Updates 2025

Attendance Allowance

  • Attendance Allowance helps people over State Pension age who need support with daily personal care or supervision.
  • In 2025/26, the lower rate was £73.90 and the higher rate £110.40 per week.
  • From April 2026, these are expected to rise in line with CPI inflation, keeping payments in step with cost-of-living pressures for older and disabled people.
  • Existing claimants will see their rates increase automatically.

Read more: Attendance Allowance Updates 2025

Universal Credit Standard Allowances

Universal Credit (UC) provides a single monthly payment that covers basic living costs. From April 2026, the standard allowances (before housing or disability elements) will increase.

  • For single claimants aged 25+, the rate is expected to rise from around £91 to £98 per week (subject to final confirmation).
  • The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) reforms continue to roll out, meaning the health element for new claimants will be lower, around £50 per week, while existing claimants will keep their higher rate under transitional protection.

If you’re on UC, you’ll see the new amount in your April 2026 statement. If it hasn’t been updated, contact your work coach or the Universal Credit helpline.

Other Benefits Also Increasing

While this article focuses on key uprating changes, other major benefits will also rise from April 2026, including:

  • State Pension, expected to increase under the triple lock (whichever is highest of CPI inflation, average earnings, or 2.5%).
  • Personal Independence Payment (PIP), both daily living and mobility components.
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children.
  • Pension Credit, which may see a rise in line with inflation.

Each of these will be detailed in the DWP’s official Benefit Uprating Order 2026, published on the Government’s Website in February 2026.

What You Should Do Before April

  1. Check your current benefit rate now (on your award letter or online account).
  2. Keep your information up to date: Report any changes in income, rent, or household circumstances.
  3. Review your payment statement in early April 2026 to confirm your new rate has been applied.
  4. Keep your records: If your rate doesn’t update correctly, contact your benefit office for clarification.
  5. If you’re unsure, seek free guidance from Citizens Advice or your local welfare rights service.

What If Your Payment Doesn’t Update Automatically?

For most claimants, rate increases are automatic. However, if your April payment doesn’t reflect the new amount:

  • Universal Credit: Send a message through your UC journal.
  • Carer’s Allowance or Attendance Allowance: Contact the DWP helpline listed on your last award letter.
  • Keep your evidence (letters or screenshots) until your new rate is confirmed.

When to Expect the Official Announcement

  • The DWP usually confirms uprating figures in February each year.
  • New rates then take effect from Monday the 6th of April 2026.
  • Updated tables will be published on GOV.UK closer to the start of the new financial year.

Why These Changes Matter

These annual upratings help ensure that carers, disabled people, and low-income families don’t fall further behind as living costs rise. Even small increases can make a difference, especially when combined with local support funds and energy-saving schemes like ECO4 and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS).

Looking Ahead

The government is also expected to confirm:

  • How Universal Credit transitional protection will continue for ESA claimants moving over in 2026.
  • The next steps in replacing the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) with a single disability and health assessment system by 2028.

We’ll update this guide once the DWP publishes the confirmed 2026/27 benefit rates.

Don’t Forget

If you’re on a low income, receive Universal Credit, other types of benefits, or are finding energy costs difficult to manage, extra help may be available.

Through the government-backed ECO4 Scheme and The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), eligible households can access free insulation and heating upgrades, designed to make homes warmer, healthier, and more affordable to run.

Check your eligibility here, it’s quick, free, and could help you make your home warmer and more affordable before next winter.