DWP confirms new payment rates from next April for PIP, State Pension, Universal Credit and other benefits

An estimated 19.2 million families and 39.8 million individuals across the UK currently in receipt of State Pension or benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will see their payments go up by 10.1% next year.

State Pension provides essential financial support every four weeks for more than 12.5 million people across the UK, including 981,399 living in Scotland. This regular payment of up to £185.15 per week for the Full, new State Pension or £141.85 per week for the basic old State Pension (Category A or B) is available for those who have reached the UK Government’s eligible retirement age, which increased to 66 for both men and women in October 2020.

There are more than 20 million people across the UK claiming benefits or State Pension from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Some benefits such as Universal Credit can be a lifeline for those out of work or on a low income, providing crucial financial support to cope with daily living costs.

The latest figures from Social Security Scotland show that at the end of February, 2022 there were 124,081 people living in Scotland receiving additional financial support through Attendance Allowance. Across the UK, there are now more than 1.5 million people over State Pension age getting either £61.85 or £92.40 each week through the benefit.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people aged over 16 and under State Pension age with a disability, long-term illness or mental health condition who need help completing daily tasks inside their home or getting around.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that the final batch of Winter Fuel Payments have now been processed and credited to eligible claimants’ bank accounts on Monday, December 12. This year’s heating bill help also includes the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, providing up to £600 in extra support.

Millions of people claiming certain benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have started to receive a bonus payment in their bank accounts. The £10 annual bonus is made automatically which arrives separately from a claimant’s regular State Pension or benefit payment.

Millions of people across the UK claiming disability benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Social Security Scotland are set for a bumper payment boost next year.

Basic and New State Pension payments will increase next year by 10.1% for some 12.5 million older people across the UK, including 992,052 living in Scotland. The honouring of the Triple Lock rule was confirmed last month during Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement and means that older people are set for an income boost from April, 2023.

Christmas Day is on a Sunday this year which means Boxing Day is on a Monday, however, the bank holiday status for that date has been moved to Tuesday, December 27. This means that State Pension payments and benefits for older people delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions which are due on those dates will be made earlier.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that it has commissioned research into the experiences of people claiming and receiving Carer’s Allowance. DWP Minister Tom Pursglove MP, explained that the Department is “reviewing the research results as part of our wider policy development and thinking around Carer’s Allowance”.

Legacy benefit claimants across the UK who missed out on the £20 weekly uplift paid to millions of people on Universal Credit during the coronavirus pandemic will be able to watch a livestream of the appeal hearing from the Court of Appeal today, Wednesday December 7.

State Pension is a contributions-based benefit that provides essential financial support for over 12.4 million older people across the UK, including some 981,399 living in Scotland. However, research by Age UK has found that an estimated 1.25 million women who are claiming State Pension are living below the breadline - equivalent to one in five.

A court appeal over the £20 weekly uplift which was paid to millions of people on Universal Credit during the coronavirus pandemic, but not to those on older-style legacy benefits, is set to take place this week. One of the litigant’s involved in the challenge confirmed on social media that the legal team representing the four benefit claimants will present their case to the Court of Appeal on Wednesday December 7, 2022.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed it has no plans to allow people diagnosed with a terminal illness to access their State Pension prior to retirement age, even if they have accrued sufficient National Insurance Contributions.The official age of retirement is 66 for both men and women and at least 10 years’ worth of National Insurance Contributions are needed for any State Pensions payment.

The latest figures from Social Security Scotland show that at the end of February, 2022 there were 124,081 people living in Scotland receiving additional financial support through Attendance Allowance. Across the UK, there are now more than 1.5 million people over State Pension age getting either £61.85 or £92.40 each week through the benefit.

The latest figures from the Treasury suggest there were 36,900 people in work claiming the Blind Person’s Allowance in 2021-22. The Blind Person's Allowance provides an extra amount of tax-free earnings for individuals who are registered as blind and is set at £2,600 for 2022-23.

The new Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has confirmed that the outcome of the State Pension age review will be published before May 2023. The review will consider a wide range of evidence, including findings from two independent reports, to assess whether the rules about State Pension age remain ‘appropriate’.

Figures shared by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that in February there were 22 million people across the UK claiming at least one benefit. That number includes nearly 12.5 million older people now in receipt of State Pension payments, a contributory benefit only available to those of retirement age with at least 10 years’ worth of National Insurance Contributions.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that more than 11.6 million pensioner households across the UK, including around one million in Scotland, have started to receive a one-off payment worth up to £600 to help with their heating bills this winter.