The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has begun notifying millions of disability benefit claimants of a significant payment increase set to take effect this spring. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients will see their weekly and monthly amounts rise by 3.8 per cent, with those on the highest rates in line for an annual boost of hundreds of pounds.
What the new PIP payment rates will be
The uplift, announced by the Labour Party government, will apply from April 2026. The DWP is currently sending letters to all claimants to inform them of their new individual amounts.
Currently, PIP weekly payments range from £29.20 to £187.45. From April, this will increase to a new range of £30.30 to £194.60 per week. Over the standard four-week assessment period, this equates to payments of between £121.20 and £778.40.
Breaking down the components
PIP is divided into two components: a daily living part and a mobility part. Each can be paid at either a standard or an enhanced rate, depending on the claimant's assessment.
The new enhanced daily living rate will be £114.60 per week, up from £110.40. The standard daily living rate rises to £76.70 from £73.90.
For the mobility component, the enhanced rate increases to £80.00 weekly (from £77.05), while the standard rate goes up to £30.30 (from £29.20).
What claimants can expect to receive
The total a person receives depends on which combination of rates they are awarded. The DWP has provided forecasts for the new four-weekly payment periods after the increase:
- Claimants on the lower rates of both components will receive around £428 per pay period (£107 weekly).
- Those on the higher rate of one component and the standard rate of the other will get approximately £626.80 every four weeks (£156.70 weekly). A specific combination of enhanced daily living and standard mobility will yield £579.60 per period (£144.90 weekly).
- Claimants on the highest rates for both daily living and mobility will see the largest rise, receiving £778.40 every four weeks (£194.60 weekly). This represents a boost of nearly £800 per year for those on the maximum entitlement.
The DWP emphasises that PIP is a benefit for people under State Pension age who need help with daily activities or mobility due to a long-term illness or disability. It is not means-tested and is not based on National Insurance contributions, meaning personal savings do not affect eligibility. Recipients are free to spend the payment on whatever support they need.
All affected individuals should receive their notification letter from the DWP before the new rates come into force in April.
