The Department for Work and Pensions has published the full list of benefit and pension rates for 2027/28 (11 November 2026), and they take effect from April 2027. Most benefits rise by 3.5% in line with September's CPI, the full new State Pension rises 3.9% to £250.70 a week, and the Universal Credit standard allowance goes up by about 4.3%. In money, that is £488.80 a year more for a full new State Pension and roughly £220 to £345 a year more for the UC standard allowance alone, depending on your household.
All figures below are the UK government's proposed 2027/28 rates for Great Britain, compared with the 2026/27 rates in the same DWP document. They are "proposed" because Parliament still has to approve the uprating order, but these lists very rarely change after publication. Northern Ireland usually mirrors them.
The headline rates, old and new
| Payment | 2026/27 | 2027/28 | Extra per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| New State Pension (full, weekly) | £241.30 | £250.70 | +£488.80 |
| Basic State Pension, Cat. A (weekly) | £184.90 | £192.10 | +£374.40 |
| Pension Credit guarantee, single (weekly) | £238.00 | £247.30 | +£483.60 |
| Pension Credit guarantee, couple (weekly) | £363.25 | £377.40 | +£735.80 |
| UC standard allowance, single 25+ (monthly) | £424.90 | £443.21 | +£219.72 |
| UC standard allowance, single under 25 (monthly) | £338.58 | £353.87 | +£183.48 |
| UC standard allowance, couple, one or both 25+ (monthly) | £666.97 | £695.71 | +£344.88 |
| UC child element, child born on/after 6 Apr 2017 (monthly) | £303.94 | £314.58 | +£127.68 |
| UC carer amount (monthly) | £209.34 | £216.67 | +£87.96 |
| UC LCWRA amount (monthly) | £217.26 | £217.26 | £0 |
| Carer's Allowance (weekly) | £86.45 | £89.50 | +£158.60 |
| PIP daily living, enhanced (weekly) | £114.60 | £118.60 | +£208.00 |
| PIP mobility, enhanced (weekly) | £80.00 | £82.80 | +£145.60 |
| Statutory Maternity Pay, standard (weekly) | £194.32 | £201.11 | +£353.08 |
| Statutory Sick Pay (weekly) | £123.25 | £127.55 | +£223.60 |
Three things stand out. First, the State Pension and Pension Credit rise faster than everything else (about 3.9%), because the State Pension follows earnings growth under the triple lock. Second, the Universal Credit standard allowance rises by around 4.3%, more than the 3.5% inflation figure, which reflects the above-inflation increases already written into law for the standard allowance. Third, the UC health element for people with limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) stays frozen at £217.26 a month, so in real terms it is worth less next year.
What it means for 4 households (illustrative examples)
These are illustrative examples using only the elements named, before earnings, housing costs, deductions or the benefit cap. Your own award will differ, so use them to see the size of the change, not your exact payment.
| Household | 2026/27 | 2027/28 | Extra a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single parent, 25+, two children born after April 2017 (UC standard allowance + 2 child elements) | £1,032.78 a month | £1,072.37 a month | +£475.08 |
| Couple, 25+, one child, one partner caring (UC couple allowance + child element + carer amount) | £1,180.25 a month | £1,226.96 a month | +£560.52 |
| Single pensioner on the full new State Pension | £12,547.60 a year | £13,036.40 a year | +£488.80 |
| Pensioner couple on the Pension Credit guarantee | £363.25 a week | £377.40 a week | +£735.80 |
Now the part that usually gets lost in the headlines. A rise of £475 a year sounds solid, but spread across 12 months it is £39.59 a month for that single parent. For the couple it is £46.71 a month. That is real money, and it is also roughly what many households saw added to energy or food bills over the past year. The rise keeps pace; it does not create slack.
The April rise keeps pace with prices. It does not create breathing room unless you decide in advance where the extra £40 a month goes.
The other number worth knowing: a full new State Pension of £13,036.40 a year is £466.40 above the £12,570 Personal Allowance. If the State Pension is your only income, check HMRC's guidance on how any tax on that amount is handled for you rather than assuming nothing is due, and if you also have a private or workplace pension, your tax code is where this shows up.
The rise lands in April. The smartest move is deciding now where every extra pound goes, before it quietly disappears into everyday spending.
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- Put your old and new monthly benefit or pension amount side by side and see the exact difference.
- Give the extra £40-ish a month a job (a bills buffer, a sinking fund for winter energy, or debt) instead of letting it vanish.
- Track bills that rise in April at the same time (council tax, water, broadband) so you see your true net change.
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See what's inside →Does this affect me? Quick decision table
| If you… | What changes in April 2027 | Worth doing now |
|---|---|---|
| Get the full new State Pension | +£9.40 a week | Check your tax code if you have other pension income. |
| Get Pension Credit | Guarantee rises about 3.9% | Check you still claim all extras (housing support, TV licence help, Cold Weather Payments). |
| Claim Universal Credit (no health element) | Standard allowance up about 4.3% | Note your new amount on your first April statement. |
| Claim UC with LCWRA | Health amount frozen at £217.26 | Budget as if this part does not rise; check other elements you may qualify for. |
| Care for someone 35+ hours a week | Carer's Allowance £89.50 a week | Check the earnings limit before taking extra shifts. |
| Are pregnant or off sick from work | SMP £201.11 / SSP £127.55 a week | Use the new rate in any 2027 maternity or sick-pay budget. |
A 3-step plan before April
- Write down today's amount and April's amount. Use the table above or your DWP statement. The difference is the number that matters.
- Line it up against April's bill rises. Council tax, water and many phone contracts change in April too. Subtract those from your rise to see your true net change.
- Decide where the difference goes. One job only: a buffer, a bill, or a debt. Money without a job tends to disappear.
If you are worried about the January gap after Christmas, our guide to DWP Christmas payment dates and the 35-day gap maps the dates. For winter bills, see who gets the £100 Household Energy Payment in 2027. The bigger picture is in the £1,050 living standards fall, and families can compare childcare costs in England. If you work and claim UC, see what the £13.21 National Living Wage really adds after tax and Universal Credit.
For free, impartial help checking what you are entitled to, MoneyHelper and Citizens Advice both offer benefit calculators and advice lines. If money worry is keeping you up at night, talking to someone you trust, or to a debt adviser, is a strong first step.
FAQ
How much will the State Pension be in April 2027?
The full new State Pension is proposed to be £250.70 a week from April 2027, up from £241.30. The full basic State Pension rises from £184.90 to £192.10 a week.
How much is Universal Credit going up in 2027?
The UC standard allowance for a single person aged 25 or over rises from £424.90 to £443.21 a month (about 4.3%). For a couple where one or both are 25+, it rises from £666.97 to £695.71 a month.
When do the new benefit rates start?
The new rates start from April 2027. Exactly when you see them depends on your payment date and assessment period, so your first full month at the new rate may land in late April or May.
Sources
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Educational content only. Not personalised financial advice.