Age UK has published the benefit rates in force for 2026-27, covering the State Pension, Pension Credit, disability and carer's payments, bereavement benefits and working-age benefits1. The charity's rate page states that "Every year, many benefit rates change" and sets out "some of the most notable changes this year and where to go for more information"1.
The new State Pension is up to £241.30 a week, depending on the National Insurance contributions made during working years, while the full State Pension under the old rules is £184.90 a week for people with at least 30 years of NI contributions1. Pension Credit Guarantee Credit can top up income to at least £238.00 a week for single people and £363.25 for couples, and Savings Credit is up to £17.96 extra a week for single people or £20.10 extra a week for couples1.
On disability and carer's benefits, Attendance Allowance is £76.70 a week for help needed in the day or at night, and £114.60 a week for help needed in the day and at night1. Carer's Allowance is £86.45 a week for someone who cares for another person, and Child Benefit is £156.65 a week as long as the claimant is still receiving it1. For disability benefits, the highest rate for the care components is increasing to £114.60 a week and the lowest to £30.30, while the highest mobility component is increasing to £80.00 a week and the lowest to £30.301.
Age UK also reports a change to bereavement benefits:
"Bereavement benefits have been extended – you no longer need to have been married or in a civil partnership with your partner to claim Bereavement Support Payment (BSP), as long as you're responsible for at least one child."
Other rates listed include £95.55 a week for a single person and £144.65 a week for a couple in one working-age benefit, with a second figure given as £95.55 a week for a single person and £153.61 a week for a couple1. The page does not name which benefits these two sets of figures refer to, and the two couple rates differ1. Council Tax Reduction and help with rent vary with circumstances and criteria, and may cover Council Tax or rent in full1. Winter Fuel Payment remains one annual payment of up to £300 depending on age and who the claimant lives with, and is recovered through the tax system if taxable income is over £35,0001. Cold Weather Payment remains £25 a week when the weather has been, or is expected to be, freezing or below for seven days in a row between November and March, and the Warm Home Discount is a one-off discount of up to £150 on an energy bill from the supplier1.
Why it matters for households
The State Pension figures set the baseline for people drawing the new State Pension and the older system, and the Pension Credit Guarantee Credit amounts set the floor to which income can be topped up for single people and couples1. The extension of Bereavement Support Payment means a person responsible for at least one child can claim without having been married to, or in a civil partnership with, the person who died1. The Winter Fuel Payment recovery threshold of £35,000 in taxable income determines whether that payment is clawed back through the tax system1. Age UK's page does not give the date on which each individual rate takes effect, beyond describing them as the rates for 2026-271.
What happens next
No further dates are given on the rate page for when individual payments are next reviewed or uprated1. Age UK directs readers to its other benefit pages for more information on specific entitlements1.
Sources1 cited
- Benefit Rates 2026-27 | Age UK ageuk.org.uk
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