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Benefits rates and payments

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

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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 £68.10
  • Higher rate £101.75

Disability Living Allowance

Care Component

  • Low rate £26.90
  • Middle rate £68.10
  • High rate £101.75

Mobility Component

  • Low rate £26.90
  • High rate £71.00

Personal Independence Payment

Daily Living Component

  • Standard rate £68.10
  • Enhanced rate £101.75

Mobility Component

  • Standard rate £26.90
  • Enhanced rate £71.00

Universal Credit

Standard allowance

  • Single person under 25 £292.11
  • Single person over 25 £36874
  • Couple, under 25 £458.51
  • Couple, over 25 £578.82

Elements

  • Child element first born (born prior to 6 April 2017) £315.00
  • Child element (born on or after 6 April 2017)/ second child and subsequent child £269.58
  • Disabled child element lower rate £146.31
  • Disabled child element higher rate £456.89
  • Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity £390.06
  • Carer element £185.86

Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Personal Allowance

  • Under 25 £67.20
  • 25 or over £84.80

Components

  • Work-related £33.70
  • Support group £44.70

Personal allowance

  • Single person under 25 £67.20
  • Single person 25 or over, or lone parent 18 or over, £84.80
  • Couple, both 18 or over, £133.30

Premium details

Disability premium (JSA only)

  • Single £39.85
  • Couple £56.80

Enhanced disability premium

  • Single £19.55
  • Couple £27.90

Severe disability premium

  • Single £76.40
  • Couple £152.80

Carer premium

  • £42.75

Pension Credit

Standard minimum guarantee:

  • Single £201.05
  • Couple £306.85

Carer's Allowance

  • £76.75

For extra amounts for severe disability and carers see the "Premium details" in the Jobskeer’s Allowance (JSA) and Income-Related ESA section above.

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 benefits 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 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.