The proposed rates of benefit for 2009 are set out in the table below. The annual uprating of benefits will take place for state pension and most other benefits in the first full week of the tax year. In 2009, this will be the week beginning 6 April. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland proposes to introduce similar changes for Northern Ireland.
(Weekly rates unless otherwise shown) 2008 2009 Attendance Allowance higher rate 67.00 70.35 lower rate 44.85 47.10 Carer's Allowance 50.55 53.10 Council Tax Benefit Personal allowances Single 18 to 24 47.95 50.95 25 or over 60.50 64.30 entitled to main phase ESA 60.50 64.30 lone parent 60.50 64.30 couple 94.95 100.95 dependent children 52.59 56.11 pensioner single/lone parent- 60-64 124.05 130.00 Couple - one or both 60-64 189.35 198.45 single/lone parent - 65 and over 143.80 150.40 couple - one or both 65 and over 215.50 225.50 Premiums family 16.75 17.30 family (lone parent rate) 22.20 22.20 child under 1 10.50 10.50 disability single 25.85 27.50 couple 36.85 39.15 enhanced disability single 12.60 13.40 disabled child 19.60 20.65 couple 18.15 19.30 severe disability single 50.35 52.85 couple (lower rate) 50.35 52.85 couple (higher rate) 100.70 105.70 disabled child 48.72 51.24 carer 27.75 29.50 ESA components work-related activity 24.00 25.50 support 29.00 30.85 Alternative maximum Council Tax Benefit second adult getting IS, JSA(IB), ESA(IR) or Pension Credit 25% of Council Tax 25% of Council Tax first adult(s) student(s) 100% of Council Tax 100% of Council Tax second adult's gross income under £175.00 15% of Council Tax 15% of Council Tax £175.00 to £227.99 7.5% of Council Tax 7.5% of Council Tax CAPITAL LIMITS—rules common to Income Support, income- based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit unless stated otherwise. upper limit 16000.00 16000.00 upper limit - Pension Credit and HB/CTB guarantee credit No limit No limit amount disregarded 6000.00 6000.00 child disregard (not Pension Credit) 3000.00 3000.00 amt disregarded (living in RC/NH) 10000.00 10000.00 Tariff Income—£1 for every £250, or part thereof, between the amount of capital disregarded and the capital upper limit. Tariff income - Pension Credit and HB/CTB where claimant or partner is aged 60 or over. £1 for every £500, or part thereof, between the amount of capital disregarded and the capital upper limit. Deductions—rules common to Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance,Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit unless stated otherwise. Non-dependant deductions from rent rebates and allowances and from IS, JSA(IB), ESA(IR) and Pension Credit aged 25 and over in receipt of IS and JSA(IB), in receipt of main phase ESA(IR), aged 18 or over and not in remunerative work. 7.40 7.40 aged 18 or over and in remunerative work gross income: less than £120.00 7.40 7.40 gross income: £120 to £177.99 17.00 17.00 gross income: £178 to £230.99 23.35 23.35 gross income: £231 to £305.99 38.20 38.20 gross income: £306 to £381.99 43.50 43.50 gross income: £382 and above 47.75 47.75 Non-dependant deductions from council tax benefit aged 18 or over and in remunerative work gross income: £382 or more 6.95 6.95 gross income: £306 - £381.99 5.80 5.80 gross income: £178 - £305.99 4.60 4.60 gross income less than £178 2.30 2.30 others, aged 18 or over 2.30 2.30 Deductions from housing benefit service charges for fuel heating 15.45 21.55 hot water 1.80 2.50 lighting 1.25 1.75 cooking 1.80 2.50 Amount ineligible for meals three or more meals a day single claimant 21.60 22.95 each person in family aged 16 or over 21.60 22.95 each child under 16 10.90 11.60 less than three meals a day single claimant 14.35 15.25 each person in family aged 16 or over 14.35 15.25 each child under 16 7.20 7.65 breakfast only - claimant and each member of the family 2.65 2.80 Amount for personal expenses (not HB/CTB) 21.15 21.90 Third party deductions from IS, JSA(IB), ESA(IR) and Pension Credit for; arrears of housing, fuel and water costs 3.05 3.25 council tax etc. and deductions for ELDS and ILS. child support, contribution towards maintenance (CTM) standard deduction 6.10 6.50 lower deduction 3.05 3.25 arrears of Community Charge court order against claimant 3.05 3.25 court order against couple 4.75 5.05 fine or compensation order standard rate 5.00 5.00 lower rate 3.05 3.25 Maximum deduction rates for recovery of overpayments (not CTB/JSA(C)/ESA(C)) ordinary overpayments 9.15 9.75 where claimant convicted of fraud 12.00 12.80 Deductions from JSA(C) and ESA(C) Arrears of Comm. Charge, Council Tax, fines and overpayment recovery Age 16 – 24 15.98 16.98 Age 25 + 20.16 21.43 Maximum deduction for arrears of Child Maintenance (CTM) Age 16 – 24 15.98 16.98 Age 25 + 20.16 21.43 Disregards Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Earnings disregards standard (single claimant) 5.00 5.00 Couple 10.00 10.00 higher (special occupations/circumstances) 20.00 20.00 lone parent 25.00 25.00 childcare charges 175.00 175.00 childcare charges (2 or more children) 300.00 300.00 Other Income disregards adult maintenance disregard 15.00 15.00 war disablement pension and war widows pension 10.00 10.00 widowed mothers/parents allowance 15.00 15.00 Armed Forces Compensation Scheme 10.00 10.00 student loan 10.00 10.00 student's covenanted income 5.00 5.00 income from boarders (plus 50% of the balance) 20.00 20.00 additional earnings disregard 16.05 16.85 income from subtenants 20.00 20.00 Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit Earnings disregards standard (single claimant) 5.00 5.00 couple 10.00 10.00 higher (special occupations/circumstances) 20.00 20.00 Other Income disregards war disablement pension and war widows pension 10.00 10.00 widowed mothers/parents allowance 10.00 10.00 Armed Forces Compensation Scheme 10.00 10.00 student loan (not Pension Credit) 10.00 10.00 student's covenanted income (not Pension Credit) 5.00 5.00 income from boarders (plus 50% of the balance) 20.00 20.00 income from subtenants 20.00 20.00 Dependency Increases Adult dependency increases for spouse or person looking after children - payable with; State Pension on own insurance. 54.35 57.05 Long-term Incapacity Benefit and Unemployability Supplement. 50.55 53.10 Severe Disablement Allowance. 30.40 31.90 Carers Allowance. 30.20 31.70 short-term Incapacity Benefit (over state pension age). 48.65 51.10 Maternity Allowance and short-term Incapacity Benefit. 39.40 41.35 Child Dependency Increases - payable with; State Pension; Widowed Mothers/Parents Allowance; short-term Incapacity benefit – higher rate or over state pension age; long-term Incapacity Benefit; Carer's Allowance; Severe Disablement Allowance; Industrial Death Benefit (higher rate); Unemployability Supplement. 11.35 11.35 Note - The rate of child dependency increase is adjusted where it is payable for the eldest child for whom child benefit is also paid. The weekly rate in such cases is reduced by the difference (less £3.65) between the ChB rates for the eldest and subsequent children. Disability Living Allowance Care Component Highest 67.00 70.35 Middle 44.85 47.10 Lowest 17.75 18.65 Mobility Component Higher 46.75 49.10 Lower 17.75 18.65 Employment and Support Allowance Personal Allowances under 25 47.95 50.95 25 or over 60.50 64.30 lone parent under 18 47.95 50.95 18 or over 60.50 64.30 Couple both under 18 47.95 50.95 both under 18 with child 72.35 76.90 both under 18 (main phase) 60.50 64.30 both under 18 with child (main phase) 94.95 100.95 One 18 or over, one under 18 94.95 100.95 both over 18 94.95 100.95 claimant under 25, partner under 18 47.95 50.95 claimant 25 or over, partner under 18 60.50 64.30 claimant (main phase), partner under 18 60.50 64.30 Premiums enhanced disability single 12.60 13.40 couple 18.15 19.30 severe disability single 50.35 52.85 couple (lower rate) 50.35 52.85 couple (higher rate) 100.70 105.70 carer 27.75 29.50 pensioner single with WRAC 39.55 40.20 single with support component 34.55 34.85 single with no component 63.55 65.70 couple with WRAC 70.40 72.00 couple with support component 65.40 66.65 couple with no component 94.40 97.50 Components Work-related Activity 24.00 25.50 Support 29.00 30.85 Earnings Rules Carers Allowance 95.00 95.00 Limit of earnings from councillor's allowance 88.50 92.00 Permitted work earnings limit - higher 88.50 92.00 Permitted work earnings limit - lower 20.00 20.00 Industrial injuries unemployability supplement permitted earnings level (annual amount) 4602.00 4784.00 Earnings level at which adult dependency (ADI) increases are affected with short-term incapacity benefit where claimant is: (a) under state pension age 39.40 41.35 (b) over state pension age 48.65 51.10 maternity allowance 39.40 41.35 state pension, long term incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance; unemployability supplement - payable when dependant (a) is living with claimant 60.50 64.30 (b) still qualifies for the tapered earnings rule 45.09 45.09 Earnings level at which ADI is affected when dependant is not living with claimant; State pension. 54.35 57.05 Long-term incapacity benefit and unemployability supplement. 50.55 53.10 Severe disablement allowance. 30.40 31.90 Carers allowance 30.20 31.70 Earnings level at which child dependency increases are affected for first child 185.00 195.00 additional amount for each subsequent child 25.00 26.00 Pension income threshold for incapacity benefit 85.00 85.00 Housing Benefit Personal allowances single 16 to 24 47.95 50.95 25 or over 60.50 64.30 entitled to main phase ESA 60.50 64.30 lone parent under 18 47.95 50.95 18 or over 60.50 64.30 entitled to main phase ESA 60.50 64.30 couple both under 18 72.35 76.90 one or both 18 or over 94.95 100.95 claimant entitled to main phase ESA 94.95 100.95 dependent children 52.59 56.11 pensioner single/lone parent - 60 - 64 124.05 130.00 couple - one or both 60 - 64 189.35 198.45 single/lone parent - 65 and over 143.80 150.40 couple - one or both 65 and over 215.50 225.50 Premiums family 16.75 17.30 family (lone parent rate) 22.20 22.20 child under 1 10.50 10.50 disability single 25.85 27.50 couple 36.85 39.15 enhanced disability single 12.60 13.40 disabled child 19.60 20.65 couple 18.15 19.30 severe disability single 50.35 52.85 couple (lower rate) 50.35 52.85 couple (higher rate) 100.70 105.70 disabled child 48.72 51.24 carer 27.75 29.50 ESA components work-related activity 24.00 25.50 support 29.00 30.85 Incapacity Benefit Long-term Incapacity Benefit 84.50 89.80 Short-term Incapacity Benefit (under state pension age) lower rate 63.75 67.75 higher rate 75.40 80.15 Short-term Incapacity Benefit (over state pension age) lower rate 81.10 86.20 higher rate 84.50 89.80 Increase of Long-term Incapacity Benefit for age higher rate 17.75 15.65 lower rate 8.90 6.55 Invalidity Allowance (Transitional) higher rate 17.75 15.65 middle rate 11.40 9.10 lower rate 5.70 5.35 Income Support Personal Allowances single under 25 47.95 50.95 25 or over 60.50 64.30 lone parent under 18 47.95 50.95 18 or over 60.50 64.30 couple both under 18 47.95 50.95 both under 18 - higher rate 72.35 76.90 one under 18, one under 25 47.95 50.95 one under 18, one 25 and over 60.50 64.30 both 18 or over 94.95 100.95 dependent children 52.59 56.11 Premiums family / lone parent 16.75 17.30 pensioner (applies to couples only) 94.40 97.50 disability single 25.85 27.50 couple 36.85 39.15 enhanced disability single 12.60 13.40 disabled child 19.60 20.65 couple 18.15 19.30 severe disability single 50.35 52.85 couple (lower rate) 50.35 52.85 couple (higher rate) 100.70 105.70 disabled child 48.72 51.24 carer 27.75 29.50 Relevant sum for strikers 32.50 34.50 Industrial Death Benefit Widow's pension higher rate 90.70 95.25 lower rate 27.21 28.58 Widower's pension 90.70 95.25 Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit 18 and over, or under 18 with dependants 100% 136.80 143.60 90% 123.12 129.24 80% 109.44 114.88 70% 95.76 100.52 60% 82.08 86.16 50% 68.40 71.80 40% 54.72 57.44 30% 41.04 43.08 20% 27.36 28.72 Under 18 100% 83.85 88.05 90% 75.47 79.25 80% 67.08 70.44 70% 58.70 61.64 60% 50.31 52.83 50% 41.93 44.03 40% 33.54 35.22 30% 25.16 26.42 20% 16.77 17.61 Maximum life gratuity (lump sum) 9090.00 9540.00 Unemployability Supplement 84.50 88.75 increase for early incapacity higher rate 17.75 18.65 middle rate 11.40 12.00 lower rate 5.70 6.00 Maximum reduced earnings allowance 54.72 57.44 Maximum retirement allowance 13.68 14.36 Constant attendance allowance exceptional rate 109.60 115.00 intermediate rate 82.20 86.25 normal maximum rate 54.80 57.50 part-time rate 27.40 28.75 Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 54.80 57.50 Jobseeker's Allowance Contribution based JSA - Personal rates under 25 47.95 50.95 25 or over 60.50 64.30 Income-based JSA - personal allowances under 25 47.95 50.95 25 or over 60.50 64.30 lone parent under 18 47.95 50.95 18 or over 60.50 64.30 Couple both under 18 47.95 50.95 both under 18 - higher rate 72.35 76.90 one under 18, one under 25 47.95 50.95 one under 18, one 25 and over 60.50 64.30 both 18 or over 94.95 100.95 dependent children 52.59 56.11 Premiums family/lone parent 16.75 17.30 Pensioner single 63.55 65.70 couple 94.40 97.50 disability single 25.85 27.50 couple 36.85 39.15 enhanced disability single 12.60 13.40 disabled child 19.60 20.65 couple 18.15 19.30 severe disability single 50.35 52.85 couple (lower rate) 50.35 52.85 couple (higher rate) 100.70 105.70 disabled child 48.72 51.24 carer 27.75 29.50 Prescribed sum for strikers 32.50 34.50 Maternity Allowance Standard rate 117.18 123.06 MA threshold 30.00 30.00 Pension Credit Standard minimum guarantee single 124.05 130.00 couple 189.35 198.45 Additional amount for severe disability Single 50.35 52.85 couple (one qualifies) 50.35 52.85 couple (both qualify) 100.70 105.70 Additional amount for carers 27.75 29.50 Savings credit threshold – single 91.20 96.00 threshold - couple 145.80 153.40 maximum – single 19.71 20.40 maximum - couple 26.13 27.03 Amount for claimant and first spouse in polygamous marriage 189.35 198.45 Additional amount for additional spouse 65.30 68.45 Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis, and Miscellaneous Diseases Scheme and the Workmen's Compensation (Supplementation) Total disablement allowance and major incapacity allowance (maximum) 136.80 143.60 Partial disablement allowance 50.55 53.10 Unemployability supplement 84.50 88.75 increases for early incapacity - higher rate 17.75 18.65 middle rate 11.40 12.00 lower rate 5.70 6.00 Constant attendance allowance exceptional rate 109.60 115.00 intermediate rate 82.20 86.25 normal maximum rate 54.80 57.50 part-time rate 27.40 28.75 Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 54.80 57.50 Lesser incapacity allowance maximum rate of allowance 50.55 53.10 based on loss of earnings over 67.00 70.35 State Pension Category A or B 90.70 95.25 Category B (lower) - husband's insurance 54.35 57.05 Category C or D - non-contributory 54.35 57.05 Category C (lower) - non-contributory 32.50 34.15 Additional pension Increase by: 5.0% Increments to:- Basic pension Increase by: 5.0% Additional pension Increase by: 5.0% Graduated Retirement Benefit (GRB) Increase by: 5.0% Inheritable lump sum Increase by: 5.0% Contracted-out Deduction from AP in respect of Nil pre-April 1988 contracted-out earnings Contracted-out Deduction from AP in respect of contracted-out earnings from April 1988 to 1997 Increase by: 3.0% Graduated Retirement Benefit (unit) 0.1098 0.1153 Graduated Retirement Benefit (Inherited) Increase by: 5.0% Addition at age 80 0.25 0.25 Severe Disablement Allowance Basic rate 51.05 57.45 Age-related addition (from Dec 90) Higher rate 17.75 15.65 Middle rate 11.40 9.10 Lower rate 5.70 5.35 Statutory Adoption Pay Earnings threshold 90.00 95.00 Standard Rate 117.18 123.06 Statutory Maternity Pay Earnings threshold 90.00 95.00 Standard rate 117.18 123.06 Statutory Paternity Pay Earnings threshold 90.00 95.00 Standard Rate 117.18 123.06 Statutory Sick Pay Earnings threshold 90.00 95.00 Standard rate 75.40 79.15 Widow's Benefit Widowed mother's allowance 90.70 95.25 Widow's pension standard rate 90.70 95.25 age-related age 54 (49) 84.35 88.58 53 (48) 78.00 81.92 52 (47) 71.65 75.25 51 (46) 65.30 68.58 50 (45) 58.96 61.91 49 (44) 52.61 55.25 48 (43) 46.26 48.58 47 (42) 39.91 41.91 46 (41) 33.56 35.24 45 (40) 27.21 28.58 Note: For deaths occurring before 11 April 1988 refer to age-points shown in brackets. Bereavement Benefit Bereavement payment (lump sum) 2000.00 2000.00 Widowed parent's allowance 90.70 95.25 Bereavement Allowance standard rate 90.70 95.25 age-related age 54 84.35 88.58 53 78.00 81.92 52 71.65 75.25 51 65.30 68.58 50 58.96 61.91 49 52.61 55.25 48 46.26 48.58 47 39.91 41.91 46 33.56 35.24 45 27.21 28.58