Many benefits were increased this week (10 April) including Universal Credit, Maternity Pay and Child Benefit … here's what you can expect to get

In a bid to keep up with inflation, the Government has increased many benefits by 10.1% from April 10, meaning that millions of families will get a welcome boost to their monthly payments.

Check below to see if you will be a bit better off from this week onwards:

Universal Credit Standard allowance increase per month

• For individuals who are single and under 25, the standard UC payment has increased from £265.31 to £292.11
• For those single but aged 25 or over, the standard UC amount has gone up from £334.91 to £368.74
• For joint claimants who are both under 25, the standard allowance has increased from £416.45 to £458.51
• For joint claims where one or both claimants are 25 or over, the payments have increased from £525.72 to £578.82

Extra payouts if you have children

• If your first child was born before April 6, 2017, your payment will increase from £290 to £315
• If your first child was born on or after April 6, 2017 or you have a second child and subsequent children, the extra payment has increased from £244.58 to £269.58
• If you have a disabled child, the lower rate addition payment has gone up from £132.89 to £146.31, while the higher rate has increased from £414.88 to £456.89

Extra amounts if you have limited capability for work

• If you are deemed to have limited capability for work, the extra amount has increased from £132.89 to £146.31
• For those deemed to have limited capability for work or work-related activity, the extra amount has gone from £354.28 to £390.06

Extra amounts if you are a carer

• If you are on Universal Credit and caring for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week, the extra payment has gone up from £168.81 to £185.86.

Maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental pay

• If you take time off for maternity, paternity, or shared parental leave, the statutory rates have risen from £156.66 to £172.48.
• Parental bereavement pay has also increased by the same amount.

Maternity allowance

If you are a new mum who doesn't qualify for standard maternity pay, you can still claim Maternity Allowance. This has increased from April 10, from £156.66 a week to £172.48 a week.

The new and increased Child Benefit payment rates will be paid to families from April 10, 2023, which is good news for families when a lot of bills seem to be rising.

Child Benefit is a payment made to people who are responsible for bringing up a child aged below 16 or a young person under 20, if they are still in full-time education or on certain approved training courses.

• Check our Family Benefits and Entitlements hub for details of all the benefits you may be able to claim.
• All the benefits payment dates – including child benefit – for Easter 2023

Child Benefits

Child Benefit payment rates for 2023/24

There are two Child Benefit rates in place.

Current/old rates per week

• Eldest or only child - £21.80
• Additional children - £14.45

New rates per week - from 10 April 2023

• Eldest or only child - £24.00
• Additional children - £15.90

How much is the increase?

This is an increase of £2.20 and £1.45 respectively per week and means the new, regular four-weekly payments will be £96.00 for an eldest or only child (an increase of £8.80) and £63.60 for any additional children (an increase of £7.60).

Over the next financial year, this means parents will receive an additional £114.40 and £75.40 respectively.

Guardian's Allowance rates from April 2023

The new weekly rate for Guardian's Allowance will be £20.40 - an increase of £1.85 on the current 2022/23 rate of £18.55.

This is also paid every four weeks, which means payments will rise from £74.20 to £81.60.

How is Child Benefit and Guardian's Allowance paid?

The payments come through every four weeks on a Monday or a Tuesday and the claimant will also be awarded National Insurance credits which can count towards their State Pension .

There is no limit on how many children can be claimed for, but only one person can receive Child Benefit.

Working tax credit

This is also rising by 10.1%.

According to officials , this means, for example, that the basic element of working tax credit will increase from £2,070 to £2,280 per year.

Other benefits increasing

Here's a list of other benefits increasing by 10.1% from April 2023. We'll update this list as more information is released:

• Income Support
• Jobseekers Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance
• Carer's Allowance
• Carer Premium

This is a guide only. For accurate and up to date benefit rates, check Gov.uk.

Read more about benefits and allowances

Child Benefit: are you eligible and how to claim

CHAT: Benefits

Family benefits and entitlements