Millions on benefits to get a pay rise TODAY – check how much more you’ll get

MILLIONS on benefits will get a pay rise today, here its how much more you’ll get.

Benefits including Universal Credit and the State Pension will rise today to to offset the rising price of food and other goods.

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Universal Credit and other benefits will increase today[/caption]

Most benefits will increase by 1.7%, but others including the State Pension will rise by more.

Here is a breakdown of how much you are set to receive.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a payment handed out by the Government to help those above State Pension age living with physical and mental illnesses.

It’s paid at two difference rates and how much you get depends on the severity of your illness.

Today, both rates have increased by 1.7%.

The higher rate has risen from £108.55 to £110.40, while the lower rate has risen to £72.65 to £73.90.

Carer’s Allowance

This is a benefit paid to anyone who provides care for someone for at least 35 hours a week.

The person you are caring for must also receive certain benefits, such as Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment.

You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.

The amount claimants receive has increased from £81.90 to £83.30 a week, or 1.7%.

Child Benefit

Parents can claim child benefit for children up to age 16, or 20 if they remain in education.

There are two child benefit rates – one for the eldest child and another for each further child.

The eldest or only child rate has risen from £25.60 per week, to £26.05 today, an increase of 1.7%.

The rate for additional children is £16.95, has also risen by 1.7% to £17.25.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

DLA is a benefit which helps people cover the costs of living with a disability.

The benefit is currently being phased out and replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

You can now only apply for DLA if you’re under 16, although it may have some legacy claimants, all of which will see rates go up by 1.7%.

DLA is paid at three levels.

• The highest amount has risen from £108.55 to £110.40
• The middle amount has risen from £72.65 to £73.90
• The lowest amount has risen from £28.70 to £29.20

Those who also receive the mobility component have also seen their payments go up:

• The higher amount has increased from £75.75 to £77.05
• The lower amount has increased from £28.70 to £29.20

Employment Support Allowance (ESA)

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

Rates will increase by 1.7% from today, April 7.

Single people will see their payments increase by:

• Under 25-years-old, from £71.70 to £72.90
• Age 25 and older, from £90.50 to £92.05
• Lone parent under 18, from £71.70 to £72.90
• Lone parent 18 or over, from £90.50 to £92.05

Those in a couple will also see their rates rise:

• Both under 18-years-old, from £71.70 to £72.90
• Both under 18 years old with a child, from £108.30 to £110.15
• Both over 18, from £142.25 to £144.65
• Under 25, partner under 18, from £71.70 to £72.90
• Claimant 25 or over, partner under 18, from £90.50 to £92.05

The premium paid to those with an enhanced disability will rise from £20.85 to £21.20 for a single claimant and from £29.75 to £30.25 for a couple.

Those with a severe disability will see payments rise from £81.50 to £82.90 for a single claimant, from £81.50 to £82.90 for a couple on the lower rate and from £163 to £165.80 for a couple on the higher rate.

HOUSING BENEFIT

The benefit is currently being phased out and is set to be replaced with Universal Credit.

But the rates at which housing benefit is paid to existing claimants have now increased by 1.7%.

Single people under 25 will see their personal allowances increase from £71.70 to £72.90, while those over 25 will see the rate increase from £90.50 to £92.05.

A couple under the age of 18 will see their personal allowance increase from £108.30 to £110.15, while for a couple over 18 it will increase from £142.25 to £144.65.

The rate for dependant children will increase from £83.24 to £84.66.

A single pensioner will see their personal allowance increase from £83.24 to £84.66.

Meanwhile a couple of pension age will see it increase from £352 to £366.

New-style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

JSA has replaced income-based Jobseeker’s allowance.

The benefit supports those who are out of work while they look for employment. This benefit has also increased by 1.7%.

Now the following rates will apply:

• Under 25-year-olds – JSA payments will increase from £71.70 a week to £72.90.
• Over 25-year-olds – JSA payments will rise from £90.50 to £92.05.
• Couples under 18 – Payments will go up from £71.70 to £72.90.
• Couples over 18 – Payments will increase from £142.25 to £144.65.
• Single pensioners – Payments will rise from £127.65 to £135.05.
• Couples of state pension age – Payments will increase from £190.70 to £201.95.

PENSION CREDIT

Pension Credit gives you extra money if you claim the State Pension and are on a low income.

Some of the payments made to claimants have increased by more than 1.7%.

For example, guaranteed Pension Credit payments has gone up by 4.1% from £218.15 a week to £227.10 for single claimants and from £332.95 to £346.60 for couples.

However a single, disabled Pension Credit claimant has seen payments increase by 1.7% from £81.50 to £82.90.

Meanwhile a couple where both claimants qualify for disability payments will see the amount they receive go up from £163 to £165.80.

Some people can also get the “Savings Credit” part of Pension Credit if both of the following apply:

• You reached state pension age before April 6, 2016
• You saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension

This maximum payments made with this part of pension credit have risen from £17.01 a week to £17.30 for single people or from £19.04 to £19.36 for couples.

Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

Rates for people claiming PIP have risen by 1.7% this April.

The payments help cover some of the extra costs you have to pay when you have long term ill health or a disability

Payments for the daily living component have increased from £108.55 to £110.40 for the enhanced rate and from £72.65 to £73.90 for standard.

The mobility component has also rise from £75.75 to £77.05 for enhanced and from £28.70 to £29.20 for standard.

STATE PENSION

The state pension has increased from from £11,502.40 to £11,975 per year – a 4.1% boost.

The state pension rises under the “triple lock” system which sees it rise in line with whatever is highest out of: wage growth, 2.5% or September’s inflation figures.

This year the rate of wage growth applies, meaning a 4.1% boost.

The full rate of the new state pension has risen £221.20 a week to £230.25.

For the basic part of the old state pension, the rate has increased from £169.50 to £176.45.

STATUTORY PARENTAL PAY

This benefit has also increased by 1.7%, with rates rising from £184.03 a week to £187.18.

The benefit includes maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and parental bereavement payments.

Statutory sick pay

You might be able to get statutory sick pay (SSP) if you’re off work due to illness.

The benefit previously gave claimants £116.75 per week and it is paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks.

But it has now increased to £118.75.

Universal Credit

The amount people claiming Universal Credit recieve has increased by 1.7%

The benefit paid to those who are not currently in work or to top up the income of low earners..

Standard allowance (per month)

• For those single and aged under 25, the standard allowance has risen from £311.68 to £316.98
• For those single and aged 25 or over, the standard allowance has risen from £393.45 to £400.14
• For joint claimants both under 25, the standard allowance has risen from £489.23 to £497.55
• For joint claimants where one or both are 25 or over, the standard allowance has risen from £617.60 to £628.10

Extra amounts for children

• For those with a first child born before April 6, 2017, the extra amount has increased from £333.33 to £339
• For those with a child born on or after April 6, 2017 or second child and subsequent child, the extra amount has risen from £287.92 to £292.81
• For those with a disabled child, the lower rate addition payment has risen from £156.11 to £158.76 and the higher rate from £487.58 to £495.87.

Extra amounts for limited capability for work

• For those deemed to have limited capability for work, the amount has increased from £156.11 to £158.76
• For those deemed to have limited capability for work or work-related activity, the extra amount will has increased from £416.19 to £423.27

Extra amounts for being a carer

Universal Credit claimants can get an additional amount if caring for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week.

The amount you get a month has risen from £198.31 to £201.68

The work allowance rates have also risen.

Increased work allowance

• The higher work allowance (no housing amount) for someone claiming Universal Credit with one or more dependent children or limited capability for work has risen from £673 to £684
• The lower work allowance for someone claiming Universal Credit with one or more dependent children or limited capability for work has risen from £404 to £411