The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that from April 2025 major disability-related benefits will receive an uprating, meaning higher weekly payments for many claimants.
With living costs remaining high, this increase aims to ensure that those receiving support for long-term health conditions or disabilities see their payments keep pace with inflation.
In this article we explore exactly which benefits are affected, by how much, who will receive the increase automatically, and what this change means in real terms for recipients.
What’s happening?
From April 2025, several key disability and illness-related benefits administered by the DWP are being increased. These include the following benefits:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Attendance Allowance (AA)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
The general increase rate for these inflation-linked working-age benefits is 1.7%, based on the September 2024 Consumer Prices Index.
At the same time the State Pension follows separate rules and increases by 4.1%, but the disability-related benefits listed here use the 1.7% uprating.
What are the new weekly rates in 2025/26?
Here are some of the updated figures for the major components of each benefit:
PIP (Weekly)
- Daily Living Component – Standard: £73.90
- Daily Living Component – Enhanced: £110.40
- Mobility Component – Standard: £29.20
- Mobility Component – Enhanced: £77.05
DLA (Weekly) – Care Component
- Highest Rate (Care): £110.40
- Middle Rate (Care): £73.90
- Lowest Rate (Care): £29.20
DLA (Weekly) – Mobility Component
- Higher Mobility Rate: £77.05
- Lower Mobility Rate: £29.20
Attendance Allowance (Weekly)
- Higher Rate: £110.40
- Lower Rate: £73.90
ESA (Weekly)
- Work-Related Activity Group: £36.55
- Support Component: £48.50
- Assessment Phase Allowance (Under 25): £72.90
- Assessment Phase Allowance (25+): £92.05
Key changes- 2024/25 → 2025/26
| Benefit / Component | 2024/25 Weekly Rate | 2025/26 Weekly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| PIP – Daily Living (Standard) | £72.65 | £73.90 |
| PIP – Daily Living (Enhanced) | £108.55 | £110.40 |
| PIP – Mobility (Standard) | £28.70 | £29.20 |
| PIP – Mobility (Enhanced) | £75.75 | £77.05 |
| DLA – Care (Highest) | £108.55 | £110.40 |
| DLA – Mobility (Higher) | £75.75 | £77.05 |
| Attendance Allowance – Higher | £108.55 | £110.40 |
| ESA – Work-Related Activity | £35.95 | £36.55 |
| ESA – Support Component | £47.70 | £48.50 |
| ESA – Assessment Phase (25+) | £90.50 | £92.05 |
The slight rise reflects the 1.7% uprating and applies to these working-age disability and illness-related awards.
Who will benefit automatically?
- If you already receive PIP, DLA or Attendance Allowance, your rate will increase from the first payment period after April 6/7 2025 — you do not need to re-apply just for the rate increase.
- If you receive ESA and are in one of the components that have been uprated (work-related activity, support component, assessment phase), the new rate will apply similarly.
- The uplift applies only to the rate of the benefit, not to changes in eligibility or assessment criteria.
Why 1.7% increase?
Working-age disability and illness benefits that link to inflation are uprated each April, and for 2025/26 the appropriate measure is the CPI in September 2024, which was 1.7%. By law this inflation-linked uprating must be applied.
What this means in real terms
- Someone receiving PIP at both the enhanced Daily Living and enhanced Mobility rate will now get £110.40 + £77.05 = £187.45 per week.
- A DLA claimant on the highest care rate gets £110.40 per week, instead of the previous £108.55.
- An ESA claimant in the Support Group component moves from £47.70 per week to £48.50 per week.
These increases help maintain the real value of the support, although the rise is modest.
Key things to watch
- While the rate increases automatically, your entitlement category (standard vs enhanced, mobility vs daily living) stays the same until a reassessment or change of circumstances.
- If your condition worsens, you might be eligible for a higher rate (for example from standard -> enhanced) — the uplift does not cover changes of category.
- Some proposed reforms to disability benefit eligibility and assessment criteria are due in future years (2026-27 and beyond). These include tightened rules for PIP and changes to the health element of Universal Credit.
- For claimants whose assessment period crosses 6-7 April 2025/2026, the effective date of the new rate could depend on the start of their next assessment window.
The 2025-26 benefit uplifts deliver a welcome though modest increase across several key disability and illness-related benefits: PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance and ESA.
With the inflation-linked rise of 1.7%, weekly rates such as £110.40 for enhanced PIP daily living, £77.05 for enhanced PIP mobility, and £48.50 for ESA support component reflect the latest published figures.
While this helps maintain support levels, individuals should still monitor their eligibility categories and potential reforms that may affect future entitlements.
Stay aware of your award letter, your conditions, and any changes to your needs so your support accurately reflects your situation.
FAQs
Do I need to apply to receive the new higher rate?
No. If you are already claiming the applicable benefit (PIP, DLA, AA, ESA) the new rate applies automatically from the relevant payment period after April 6/7 2025.
Will I receive any back-pay for the increase?
No retrospective back-pay is given solely for the inflation uprating. The increase is forward-looking from the start of the new benefit year.
Does this change mean I qualify for a higher rate because my needs are greater?
Not automatically. The uprating adjusts the weekly amount of your existing rate. If your needs have changed (for example you now require much more help), you may need to ask for a reassessment to see if you qualify for a higher rate.
