The DWP have now published its proposed benefits rates for 2027-28, which are extremely likely to be the confirmed rates that will be introduced.
As expected, PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance and contributory ESA rates will rise by approximately 3.5% from April 2027.
However, there are some important exceptions, including above-inflation increases for Universal Credit standard allowances and income-related ESA personal allowances, as well as freezes and below-inflation increases for some health-related payments.
| Benefit or component | 2026–27 | 2027–28 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – weekly | |||
| Daily living – enhanced | £114.60 | £118.60 | £4.00 |
| Daily living – standard | £76.70 | £79.40 | £2.70 |
| Mobility – enhanced | £80.00 | £82.80 | £2.80 |
| Mobility – standard | £30.30 | £31.35 | £1.05 |
| Disability Living Allowance (DLA) – weekly | |||
| Care – highest | £114.60 | £118.60 | £4.00 |
| Care – middle | £76.70 | £79.40 | £2.70 |
| Care – lowest | £30.30 | £31.35 | £1.05 |
| Mobility – higher | £80.00 | £82.80 | £2.80 |
| Mobility – lower | £30.30 | £31.35 | £1.05 |
| Attendance Allowance (AA) – weekly | |||
| Higher rate | £114.60 | £118.60 | £4.00 |
| Lower rate | £76.70 | £79.40 | £2.70 |
| Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) – contributory / New Style – weekly | |||
| Personal allowance – under 25 | £75.65 | £78.30 | £2.65 |
| Personal allowance – 25 or over | £95.55 | £98.90 | £3.35 |
| Work-related activity component | £37.95 | £39.30 | £1.35 |
| Support component | £50.35 | £52.10 | £1.75 |
| Income-related ESA – weekly | |||
| Single – under 25 | £77.52 | £81.52 | £4.00 |
| Single – 25 or over | £97.75 | £102.93 | £5.18 |
| Couple – both 18 or over | £153.61 | £161.74 | £8.13 |
| Work-related activity component | £36.55 | £36.55 | £0.00* |
| Support component | £48.50 | £48.92 | £0.42* |
| Enhanced disability premium – single | £22.00 | £22.77 | £0.77 |
| Enhanced disability premium – couple | £31.40 | £32.50 | £1.10 |
| Severe disability premium – single | £86.05 | £89.07 | £3.02 |
| Severe disability premium – couple, higher rate | £172.10 | £178.13 | £6.03 |
| Carer premium | £48.15 | £49.85 | £1.70 |
| Universal Credit – standard allowances – monthly | |||
| Single – under 25 | £338.58 | £353.87 | £15.29* |
| Single – 25 or over | £424.90 | £443.21 | £18.31* |
| Couple – both under 25 | £528.34 | £551.11 | £22.77* |
| Couple – one or both 25 or over | £666.97 | £695.71 | £28.74* |
| Universal Credit – health elements – monthly | |||
| Limited capability for work (LCW) | £158.76 | £158.76 | £0.00* |
| LCWRA – lower rate | £217.26 | £217.26 | £0.00* |
| LCWRA – higher rate (protected groups) | £429.80 | £441.41 | £11.61* |
| Universal Credit – other additions – monthly | |||
| Carer element | £209.34 | £216.67 | £7.33 |
| Disabled child – lower addition | £164.79 | £170.56 | £5.77 |
| Disabled child – higher addition | £514.71 | £532.72 | £18.01 |
| Child element – first child born before 6 April 2017 | £351.88 | £364.20 | £12.32 |
| Child element – born on or after 6 April 2017 / subsequent child | £303.94 | £314.58 | £10.64 |
| Higher work allowance | £710.00 | £735.00 | £25.00 |
| Lower work allowance | £427.00 | £442.00 | £15.00 |
| Carer's Allowance – weekly | |||
| Carer's Allowance | £86.45 | £89.50 | £3.05 |
| Earnings limit | £204.00 | £212.00 | £8.00* |
Notes on the increases
The government's inflation uprating figure for 2027–28 is 3.5%. Most disability benefits, including PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance and Carer's Allowance, increase by approximately this amount. Small differences are due to rounding.
Universal Credit standard allowance: These rates rise by between approximately 4.3% and 4.5%, more than the 3.5% inflation figure.
Universal Credit lower LCWRA rate: This remains frozen at £217.26 a month. This means it will lose value against inflation.
Universal Credit higher LCWRA rate: The rate for claimants covered by the higher-rate provisions, including pre-2026 claimants, those meeting the severe conditions criteria and terminally ill claimants, rises by just 2.7%, below inflation.
Universal Credit LCW element: This remains frozen at £158.76 a month. It is generally payable only to qualifying claimants with existing entitlement.
Income-related ESA: The published personal allowances shown here rise by around 5.2% to 5.3%. However, the work-related activity component remains frozen and the support component rises by less than 1%. These figures should not be confused with the different component rates listed for contributory ESA.
Carer's Allowance earnings limit: The earnings limit rises by £8 a week, approximately 3.9%. This is a threshold, not an additional benefit payment.
Important: The 2027–28 amounts are proposed rates, published by the DWP on 11 November 2026, and remain subject to confirmation. Weekly rates are shown unless a section states monthly rates.
For more details: DWP: Proposed benefit and pension rates 2027 to 2028.
