State pensioners with a severe disability are set to receive boosted £89.05 weekly payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) from April under Andy Burnham’s Government, it has been confirmed.

If you are of State Pension age and on a low income in England, Scotland or Wales, you may be eligible to claim weekly payments from the DWP to top up your income by claiming Pension Credit. The benefit is paid on top of your State Pension and you can get it even if you have other income, savings or you own your own home. Under current rates, Pension Credit can top up your weekly income to £238 if you’re single, or £363.25 if you have a partner.

But in cases where pensioners have a severe disability, Pension Credit can be topped up with additional amounts – and these rates are due to rise by 3.5% from April.

The DWP has confirmed that additional Pension Credit rates will be boosted by 3.5% in the 2027 to 2028 tax year in line with the increase in the consumer prices index (CPI) in the year to September 2026.

This uplift means the additional Pension Credit amount for pensioners with a severe disability will increase from £86.06 per week to £89.05 from April – a weekly rise of £2.99, or an extra £155.48 per year. According to the DWP, pensioners will be eligible for the extra amount if they get any of the following:

• Attendance Allowance
• the middle or highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment
• Pension Age Disability Payment
• the middle or highest rate of the care component of Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance

Confirming the 3.5% rise to the Pension Credit additional amount for severe disabilities from April, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden said: “Other State Pension and benefit rates covered by my statutory review will be increased by 3.5%, in line with the increase in the consumer prices index in the year to September 2026.

“This includes most working-age benefits and other benefits for people below State Pension age; benefits to help with additional needs arising from disability; statutory payments including statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay; and additional state pension. The Pension Credit savings credit maximum amount will also increase by 3.5%.”

Not only can pensioners get this extra amount if they have a disability, but Pension Credit also opens the door to a swathe of other financial support, including housing benefit, a £150 Warm Home Discount, a Council Tax discount, a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over, and help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs, among others.

To qualify for Pension Credit you must have reached State Pension age and live in England, Scotland or Wales. You can apply for it up to four months before reaching State Pension age, or any time after, but your application can only be backdated by three months. This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.

You can use the Government’s online Pension Credit calculator to get an estimate of how much you could get and can contact the pension service helpline on 0800 99 1234 to check if you’re eligible for extra amounts.

State Pensioners with One Medical Condition Could Receive an Extra £89 a Week Under Andy Burnham’s Government

Millions of older people across the United Kingdom are facing increasing financial pressure as the cost of living continues to affect household budgets. For pensioners living on limited incomes, paying for food, heating, electricity, housing and essential healthcare can be particularly challenging. However, new developments concerning Pension Credit have brought renewed attention to additional financial support available to older people with serious disabilities or medical conditions. Under the current benefit arrangements, eligible state pensioners with severe disabilities could receive an additional payment of approximately £89 per week, depending on their circumstances and the benefits they already receive. The announcement has attracted attention amid wider discussions about the Government’s commitment to improving retirement incomes under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

The additional financial support is linked to Pension Credit, a means-tested benefit administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Pension Credit is designed to help people who have reached State Pension age and have relatively low incomes. Although many pensioners assume that receiving the State Pension automatically means they cannot qualify for further assistance, this is not the case. Pension Credit can provide an important financial top-up for eligible individuals and couples, particularly those who have limited savings, little additional income or additional needs arising from disability.

For the 2026/27 financial year, the standard minimum guarantee under Pension Credit increased to £238 per week for a single pensioner and £363.25 per week for a couple. These increases followed the Government’s annual uprating of benefits. However, people with severe disabilities may qualify for additional amounts on top of the standard Pension Credit payment. The severe disability addition has increased to £86.05 per week, which is approximately £4,474.60 over a full year. Some newspaper headlines have rounded this figure to £89, but the published 2026/27 rate is £86.05 per week.

To qualify for this additional amount, pensioners must meet specific eligibility conditions. Generally, they must receive a qualifying disability benefit, live alone or be treated as living alone under the relevant rules, and no one must be receiving Carer’s Allowance or the relevant carer element of Universal Credit for looking after them. The precise rules can be complicated, particularly for couples and people living with relatives, so individual circumstances need to be assessed carefully.

Qualifying disability benefits include Attendance Allowance, the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the middle or highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance, and certain equivalent disability payments in Scotland. This means that an older person who has difficulty managing everyday activities because of a serious medical condition may be entitled to additional financial assistance, provided they satisfy the other requirements.

Importantly, having a medical condition alone does not automatically guarantee entitlement to the extra payment. The DWP considers the person’s financial circumstances, disability benefits and living arrangements. Conditions that affect mobility, daily activities, personal care or the ability to live independently may be relevant when assessing eligibility for disability benefits, but the appropriate benefit must actually be awarded.

The importance of this support should not be underestimated. An additional £86.05 per week represents more than £4,400 over a full year. For a pensioner living on a limited income, this money could help cover rising energy bills, groceries, transport expenses, heating costs and other essential household spending. It could also reduce the financial pressure on older people who require additional assistance because of long-term disabilities.

Another important advantage of Pension Credit is that qualifying for it may open the door to several other forms of financial assistance. Depending on individual circumstances, pensioners may become eligible for Housing Benefit, help with Council Tax, the Warm Home Discount, support with NHS healthcare costs and other government assistance. Pensioners aged 75 or over who receive Pension Credit can also qualify for a free television licence, subject to the relevant rules. Some eligible households may additionally qualify for Winter Fuel Payment support.

Andy Burnham’s Government has placed considerable emphasis on protecting older people and improving financial security during retirement. The Government has confirmed its commitment to maintaining the State Pension Triple Lock throughout the current Parliament. Under this mechanism, the State Pension increases annually by whichever is highest: inflation, average earnings growth or 2.5 per cent. From April 2026, the full new State Pension increased by 4.8 per cent, rising from £230.25 to £241.30 per week. The basic State Pension increased from £176.45 to £184.90 per week.

However, increasing the State Pension alone does not necessarily solve the financial difficulties experienced by all older people. Pensioners with disabilities often face additional expenses that healthy individuals may not experience. They may need to pay for mobility equipment, heating for longer periods, transport to medical appointments, home adaptations and assistance with everyday activities. Consequently, targeted disability-related support remains an important part of the wider social security system.

The Government has also confirmed a policy concerning income tax for pensioners whose only income is the full basic or new State Pension without additional increments. Under this arrangement, eligible pensioners will not be required to pay income tax on their State Pension during the current Parliament, even when annual increases take their pension above the frozen Personal Allowance. However, pensioners with private pensions, employment income, savings interest or other taxable income may face different tax arrangements.

Despite these measures, many pensioners remain unaware of the financial assistance available to them. Some assume that they will not qualify because they own a property, have a small amount of savings or already receive the State Pension. Others find the application process complicated and are reluctant to contact the DWP. As a result, eligible older people may miss out on thousands of pounds in financial support.

Pensioners and their families should therefore check their eligibility rather than automatically assuming that they do not qualify. The official Pension Credit calculator on the Government website can help individuals estimate their entitlement. Applications can be made online or by telephone, and the Pension Credit helpline is available on 0800 99 1234. Claims can generally be backdated by up to three months if the applicant met the qualifying conditions during that period.

Ultimately, the additional disability payment of £86.05 per week highlights the importance of targeted financial support for vulnerable pensioners. While the State Pension provides the foundation of retirement income, it cannot meet every additional expense associated with serious illness or disability. Pension Credit and its disability additions can therefore make a significant difference to older people who are struggling to maintain an acceptable standard of living.

For Andy Burnham’s Government, the challenge is to ensure that financial assistance reaches those who genuinely need it. Increasing pension payments, protecting the Triple Lock and supporting people with disabilities are important elements of retirement policy, but public awareness and accessible application procedures are equally essential. Pensioners should not have to struggle financially simply because they are unaware of the benefits available to them. The central message is clear: older people with qualifying disabilities and low incomes should check their entitlement to Pension Credit, as they may be eligible for substantial additional support that could improve their financial security and quality of life.