Benefits rates and payments

Find out how much the benefits that blind and partially sighted people commonly claim are worth and how they are paid

Benefit rates

Most welfare benefits go up in April each year. Below you can view the weekly rates as of April 2022 for the most common benefits that you can claim if you are blind or partially sighted, or caring for someone with sight loss.

Attendance Allowance

• Lower rate £61.85
• Higher rate £92.40

Disability Living Allowance

Care Component

• Low rate £24.45
• Middle rate £61.85
• High rate £92.40

Mobility Component

• Low rate £24.45
• High rate £64.50

Personal Independence Payment

Daily Living Component

• Standard rate £61.85
• Enhanced rate £92.40

Mobility Component

• Standard rate £24.45
• Enhanced rate £64.50

Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Personal Allowance

• Under 25 £61.05
• 25 or over £77.00

Components

• Work-related £30.60
• Support group £40.60

Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA) and Income-related ESA

Personal allowance

• Single person under 25 £61.05
• Single person 25 or over, or lone parent 18 or over £77.00
• Couple, both 18 or over £121.05

Details for premiums are below.

Disability premium (JSA only)

• Single £36.20
• Couple £51.60

Enhanced disability premium

• Single £17.75
• Couple £25.35

Severe disability premium

• Single £69.40
• Couple £138.80

Carer premium

• £38.85

Pension Credit

Standard minimum guarantee:

• Single £182.60
• Couple £278.70

For extra amounts for severe disability and carers see the "Premiums" section above.

Carer's Allowance

• £69.70

Benefit payments

When you make a claim for a benefit, you will have to state on the claim form how you would like to be paid. Wherever possible you will be asked to provide bank account details for payment. The alternative options to this are very limited now, due to the government ending the system of Post Office account payments in November 2022.

Payment Exception Service

The Payment Exception Service is a way for people who do not have a bank account to collect benefit or pension payments. However this service is only available in very limited circumstances. If you are paid this way you'll be sent either a payment card, an email with a voucher code, or a text message with a voucher code. You can then collect your payment from any PayPoint outlet or Post Office. You will also have to produce ID when collecting your money. For more information on the Payment Exception service call 0800 015 2902.