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 2016 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 £58.70
• Higher rate £87.65

Disability Living Allowance

Care Component

• Low rate £23.20
• Middle rate £58.70
• High rate £87.65

Mobility Component

• Low rate £23.20
• High rate £61.20

Personal Independence Payment

Daily Living Component

• Standard rate £58.70
• Enhanced rate £87.65

Mobility Component

• Standard rate £23.20
• Enhanced rate £61.20

Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Personal Allowance

• Under 25 £57.90
• 25 or over £73.10

Components

• Work-related £29.05
• Support group £38.55

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

Personal allowance

• Single person under 25 £57.90
• Single person 25 or over, or lone parent 18 or over £73.10
• Couple, both 18 or over £114.85

Details for premiums are below.

Disability premium (JSA only)

• Single £34.35
• Couple £48.95

Enhanced disability premium

• Single £16.80
• Couple £24.10

Severe disability premium

• Single £65.85
• Couple £131.70

Carer premium

• £36.00

Pension Credit

Standard minimum guarantee:

• Single £167.25
• Couple £255.25

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

Carer's Allowance

• £66.15

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. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can pay you in one of three ways:

1. straight into your bank or building society account
2. straight into a special Post Office card account
3. or, if you are unable to use one of the above types of account, using something called “Simple Payment”.

What is Simple Payment?

Under the scheme, you’ll receive a Simple Payment card that you can use to collect your payment from any PayPoint outlet displaying the Simple Payment sign. There are many PayPoint outlets across the UK and include some local newsagents, convenience stores and supermarkets.

When you show your card to the person serving you, you will need to confirm a memorable date (this will be your date of birth to begin with, but you can change this to another memorable date) and show an original (not a copy) document that proves your identity. Acceptable documents include your passport or a utility bill that is less than three months old. If you don’t have one of these then you can contact the office that pays your benefit or pension and they will give you a letter which you can use instead.