Pensions minister Pat McFadden has now confirmed the new rates of increase for various DWP benefits
The DWP has confirmed new Pension Credit rates (Image: Getty)
State pensioners have been handed a boosted £247.30 payment following the latest Autumn Budget – and it’s open to both older and younger state pensioners. The Secretary of State for Pensions, Pat McFadden, has now confirmed the new rates of increase for various DWP benefits.
Recorded from Parliament by Hansard, the state pensions boss has set out exactly how much each state pension benefit is set to increase by from April 2027. While some elements of the state pension are increased by the triple lock, not all are automatically and have to be increased by the Government directly. Pension Credit is a pension-age benefit paid to those on low incomes. It’s means-tested, so it takes into account a state pensioner’s total income, including work income, property income and savings.
For those on low incomes, including state pensioners with an incomplete National Insurance record – which means they aren’t getting the full state pension – or older pensioners who have a full record but only have the old state pension, Pension Credit can top up your income.
The average amount it tops up income to is £4,500 per year, but hundreds of thousands of people who are eligible to claim it still aren’t doing so.
Pat McFadden announced: “The standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit will also increase by 3.9% in line with the increase in average weekly earnings.
“From April, it will be £247.30 a week for a single pensioner and £377.40 a week for a couple, ensuring the incomes of the poorest pensioners are protected.”
The DWP explains: “Your income includes:
- State Pension
- other pensions
- earnings from employment and self-employment
- most social security benefits, for example Carer’s Allowance
Not all benefits are counted as income. For example, the following are not counted:
- Adult Disability Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Child Benefit
- Christmas Bonus
- Council Tax Reduction
- Disability Living Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Personal Independence Payment
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance
- social fund payments like Winter Fuel Payment