The proposed rates of benefit for 2010 are set out in the table below. The annual up-rating of benefits will take place for state pension and most other benefits in the first full week of the tax year. In 2010, this will be the week beginning 12 April. A corresponding provision will be made in Northern Ireland.
(Weekly rates unless otherwise shown) 2009 2010 Attendance Allowance higher rate 70.35 71.40 lower rate 47.10 47.80 Carer's Allowance 53.10 53.90 Council Tax Benefit Personal allowances Single 18 to 24 50.95 51.85 25 or over 64.30 65.45 entitled to main phase ESA 64.30 65.45 lone parent 64.30 65.45 couple 100.95 102.75 dependent children 56.11 57.57 pensioner single/lone parent has attained the qualifying age for Pension Credit but under 65. 130.00 132.60 couple - one or both has attained the qualifying age for Pension Credit but both under 65 198.45 202.40 single/lone parent - 65 and over 150.40 153.15 couple - one or both 65 and over 225.50 229.50 Premiums Family 17.30 17.40 family (lone parent rate) 22.20 22.20 child under 1 10.50 10.50 Disability Single 27.50 28.00 Couple 39.15 39.85 enhanced disability single 13.40 13.65 disabled child 20.65 21.00 couple 19.30 19.65 severe disability single 52.85 53.65 couple (lower rate) 52.85 53.65 couple (higher rate) 105.70 107.30 disabled child 51.24 52.08 carer 29.50 30.05 ESA components work-related activity 25.50 25.95 support 30.85 31.40 Alternative maximum Council Tax Benefit second adult on 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 Limit - 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 16,000.00 16,000.00 upper limit - Pension Credit guarantee credit and HB/CTB where claimant/partner 60 or over No limit No limit Amount disregarded - all benefits except Pension Credit and Housing Benefit and Council Tax benefit for those below the qualifying age for Pension Credit 6,000.00 6,000.00 Amount disregarded - Pension Credit and Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit for those above the qualifying age for Pension Credit 6,000.00 10,000.00 child disregard (not Pension Credit) 3,000.00 3,000.00 amt disregarded (living in RC/NH) 10,000.00 10,000.00 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 clmt/ptner 60 or over. £1 for every £500, or part thereof, between the amount of capital disregarded and 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-dependent deductions from housing benefit 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, 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-dependent 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 21.55 21.55 hot water 2.50 2.50 Lighting 1.75 1.75 Cooking 2.50 2.50 Amount ineligible for meals three or more meals a day single claimant 22.95 23.35 each person in family aged 16 or over 22.95 23.35 each child under 16 11.60 11.80 less than three meals a day single claimant 15.25 15.50 each person in family aged 16 or over 15.25 15.50 each child under 16 7.65 7.80 breakfast only - claimant and each member of the family 2.80 2.85 Amount for personal expenses (not HB/CTB) 21.90 22.30 Third party deductions from IS, JSA(IB), ESA(IR) and Pension Credit for; arrears of housing, fuel and water costs 3.25 3.30 council tax etc. and deductions for ELDS and ILS. child support, contribution towards maintenance (CTM) standard deduction 6.50 6.60 lower deduction 3.25 3.30 arrears of Community Charge court order against claimant 3.25 3.30 court order against couple 5.05 5.15 fine or compensation order standard rate 5.00 5.00 lower rate 3.25 3.30 Maximum deduction rates for recovery of overpayments (not CTB/JSA(C)/ESA(C)) ordinary overpayments 9.75 9.90 where claimant convicted of fraud 12.80 13.20 Deductions from JSA© Arrears of Comm. Charge, Council Tax, fines and overpayment recovery Age 16 – 24 16.98 17.28 Age 25 + 21.43 21.81 Max. dedn for arrears of Child Maintenance (CTM) Age 16 – 24 16.98 17.28 Age 25 + 21.43 21.81 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 permitted work higher n/a 93.00 permitted work lower n/a 20.00 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 16.85 17.10 income from subtenants (£20 fixed from April 08) 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 fixed from April 08) 20.00 20.00 Dependency Increases Adult dependency increases for spouse or person looking after after children - payable with; State Pension on own insurance. 57.05 57.05 long term Incapacity Benefit and Unemployability 53.10 53.10 Supplement. Severe Disablement Allowance 31.90 31.90 Carers Allowance 31.70 31.70 short-term Incapacity Benefit (over state pension age) 51.10 51.10 Maternity Allowance and short-term Incapacity Benefit. 41.35 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); 11.35 11.35 Unemployability Supplement. NB - 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. 8.20 8.10 Disability Living Allowance Care Component Highest 70.35 71.40 Middle 47.10 47.80 Lowest 18.65 18.95 Mobility Component Higher 49.10 49.85 Lower 18.65 18.95 Employment and Support Allowance Personal Allowances under 25 50.95 51.85 25 or over 64.30 65.45 lone parent under 18 50.95 51.85 18 or over 64.30 65.45 Couple both under 18 50.95 51.85 both under 18 with child 76.90 78.30 both under 18 (main phase) 64.30 65.45 both under 18 with child (main phase) 100.95 102.75 one 18 or over, one under 18 100.95 102.75 both over 18 100.95 102.75 claimant under 25, partner under 18 50.95 51.85 claimant 25 or over, partner under 18 64.30 65.45 claimant (main phase), partner under 18 64.30 65.45 Premiums enhanced disability Single 13.40 13.65 Couple 19.30 19.65 severe disability Single 52.85 53.65 couple (lower rate) 52.85 53.65 couple (higher rate) 105.70 107.30 Carer 29.50 30.05 pensioner single with WRAC 40.20 41.20 single with support component 34.85 35.75 single with no component 65.70 67.15 couple with WRAC 72.00 73.70 couple with support component 66.65 68.25 couple with no component 97.50 99.65 Components Work-related Activity 25.50 25.95 Support 30.85 31.40 Earnings Rules Carers Allowance 95.00 95.00 Limit of earnings from councillor's allowance 92.00 93.00 Permitted work earnings limit Higher 92.00 93.00 Lower 20.00 20.00 Industrial injuries unemployability supplement 4,784.00 4,836.00 permitted earnings level (annual amount) Earnings level at which adult dependency (ADI) increases are affected with: short-term incap.benefit where claimant is (a) under state pension age 41.35 41.35 (b) over state pension age 51.10 51.10 maternity allowance 41.35 41.35 state pension, long term incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance, unemployability supplement - payable when dependant (a) is living with claimant 64.30 65.45 (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, 57.05 57.05 long-term incapacity benefit, unemployability supplement 53.10 53.10 severe disablement allowance 31.90 31.90 Carers allowance 31.70 31.70 Earnings level at which child dependency increases are affected for first child 195.00 200.00 additional amount for each subsequent child 26.00 26.00 Pension income threshold for incapacity benefit 85.00 85.00 Pension income threshold for contributory Employment Support Allowance 85.00 85.00 Housing Benefit Personal allowances Single 16 to 24 50.95 51.85 25 or over 64.30 65.45 entitled to main phase ESA 64.30 65.45 lone parent under 18 50.95 51.85 18 or over 64.30 65.45 entitled to main phase ESA 64.30 65.45 couple both under 18 76.90 78.30 one or both 18 or over 100.95 102.75 claimant entitled to main phase ESA 100.95 102.75 dependent children 56.11 57.57 pensioner single/lone parent has attained the qualifying age for Pension Credit but under 65. 130.00 132.60 Couple— one or both has attained the qualifying age for Pension Credit but both under 65 198.45 202.40 single/lone parent - 65 and over 150.40 153.15 couple - one or both 65 and over 225.50 229.50 Premiums family 17.30 17.40 family (lone parent rate) 22.20 22.20 child under 1 10.50 10.50 disability single 27.50 28.00 couple 39.15 39.85 enhanced disability single 13.40 13.65 disabled child 20.65 21.00 couple 19.30 19.65 severe disability single 52.85 53.65 couple (lower rate) 52.85 53.65 couple (higher rate) 105.70 107.30 disabled child 51.24 52.08 carer 29.50 30.05 ESA components work-related activity 25.50 25.95 support 30.85 31.40 Incapacity Benefit Long-term Incapacity Benefit 89.80 91.40 Short-term Incapacity Benefit (under state pension age) lower rate 67.75 68.95 higher rate 80.15 81.60 Short-term Incapacity Benefit (over state pension age) lower rate 86.20 87.75 higher rate 89.80 91.40 Increase of Long-term Incapacity Benefit for age higher rate 15.65 15.00 lower rate 6.55 5.80 Invalidity Allowance (Transitional) higher rate 15.65 15.00 middle rate 9.10 8.40 lower rate 5.35 5.45 Income Support Personal Allowances Single under 25 50.95 51.85 25 or over 64.30 65.45 lone parent under 18 50.95 51.85 18 or over 64.30 65.45 Couple both under 18 50.95 51.85 both under 18 - higher rate 76.90 78.30 one under 18, one under 25 50.95 51.85 one under 18, one 25 and over 64.30 65.45 both 18 or over 100.95 102.75 dependent children 56.11 57.57 Premiums family/lone parent 17.30 17.40 pensioner (applies to couples only) 97.50 99.65 disability single 27.50 28.00 couple 39.15 39.85 enhanced disability single 13.40 13.65 disabled child 20.65 21.00 couple 19.30 19.65 severe disability single 52.85 53.65 couple (lower rate) 52.85 53.65 couple (higher rate) 105.70 107.30 disabled child 51.24 52.08 carer 29.50 30.05 Relevant sum for strikers 34.50 35.00 Industrial Death Benefit Widow's pension higher rate 95.25 97.65 lower rate 28.58 29.30 Widower's pension 95.25 97.65 Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit 18 and over, or under 18 with dependants 100% 143.60 145.80 90% 129.24 131.22 80% 114.88 116.64 70% 100.52 102.06 60% 86.16 87.48 50% 71.80 72.90 40% 57.44 58.32 30% 43.08 43.74 20% 28.72 29.16 Under 18 100% 88.05 89.35 90% 79.25 80.42 80% 70.44 71.48 70% 61.64 62.55 60% 52.83 53.61 50% 44.03 44.68 40% 35.22 35.74 30% 26.42 26.81 20% 17.61 17.87 Maximum life gratuity (lump sum) 9540.00 9680.00 Unemployability Supplement 88.75 90.10 increase for early incapacity higher rate 18.65 18.65 middle rate 12.00 12.00 lower rate 6.00 6.00 Maximum reduced earnings allowance 57.44 58.32 Maximum retirement allowance 14.36 14.58 Constant attendance allowance exceptional rate 115.00 116.80 intermediate rate 86.25 87.60 normal maximum rate 57.50 58.40 part-time rate 28.75 29.20 Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 57.50 58.40 Jobseeker's Allowance Contribution based JSA - Personal rates under 25 50.95 51.85 25 or over 64.30 65.45 Income-based JSA - personal allowances under 25 50.95 51.85 25 or over 64.30 65.45 lone parent under 18 50.95 51.85 18 or over 64.30 65.45 couple both under 18 50.95 51.85 both under 18 – higher rate 76.90 78.30 one under 18, one under 25 50.95 51.85 one under 18, one 25 and over 64.30 65.45 both 18 or over 100.95 102.75 dependent children 56.11 57.57 Premiums family/lone parent 17.30 17.40 pensioner single 65.70 67.15 couple 97.50 99.65 disability single 27.50 28.00 couple 39.15 39.85 enhanced disability single 13.40 13.65 disabled child 20.65 21.00 couple 19.30 19.65 severe disability single 52.85 53.65 couple (lower rate) 52.85 53.65 couple (higher rate) 105.70 107.30 disabled child 51.24 52.08 carer 29.50 30.05 Prescribed sum for strikers 34.50 35.00 Maternity Allowance Standard rate 123.06 124.88 MA threshold 30.00 30.00 Pension Credit Standard minimum guarantee Single 130.00 132.60 Couple 198.45 202.40 Additional amount for severe disability single 52.85 53.65 couple (one qualifies) 52.85 53.65 couple (both qualify) 105.70 107.30 Additional amount for carers 29.50 30.05 Savings credit threshold - single 96.00 98.40 threshold - couple 153.40 157.25 maximum - single 20.40 20.52 maximum - couple 27.03 27.09 Amount for claimant and first spouse in polygamous marriage 198.45 202.40 Additional amount for additional spouse 68.45 69.80 Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis, and miscellaneous diseases scheme And the workmen's compensation (supplementation) Total disablement allowance and major incapacity allowance (maximum) 143.60 145.80 Partial disablement allowance 53.10 53.90 Unemployability supplement 88.75 90.10 increases for early incapacity - higher rate 18.65 18.65 middle rate 12.00 12.00 lower rate 6.00 6.00 Constant attendance allowance exceptional rate 115.00 116.80 intermediate rate 86.25 87.60 normal maximum rate 57.50 58.40 part-time rate 28.75 29.20 Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 57.50 58.40 Lesser incapacity allowance maximum rate of allowance 53.10 53.90 based on loss of earnings over 70.35 71.40 State Pension Category A or B 95.25 97.65 Category B(lower) - spouse or civil partner's insurance 57.05 58.50 Category C or D - non-contributory 57.05 58.50 Category C(lower) - non-contributory 34.15 35.00 Additional pension Increase by: 0.0% Increments to:- Basic pension Increase by: 0.0% Additional pension Increase by: 0.0% Graduated Retirement Benefit (GRB) Increase by: 0.0% Inheritable lump sum Increase by: 0.0% 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: 0.0% Graduated Retirement Benefit (unit) 0.1153 0.1153 Increase of long-term incapacity for age Increase by: 0.0% Addition at age 80 0.25 0.25 Increase of long-term incapacity for age higher rate 18.65 18.65 lower rate 9.35 9.35 Invalidity Allowance (Transitional) for State Pension recipients higher rate 18.65 18.65 middle rate 12.00 12.00 lower rate 6.00 6.00 Severe Disablement Allowance Basic rate 57.45 59.45 Age-related addition (from Dec 90) Higher rate 15.65 15.00 Middle rate 9.10 8.40 Lower rate 5.35 5.45 Statutory Adoption Pay Earnings threshold 95.00 97.00 Standard Rate 123.06 124.88 Statutory Maternity Pay Earnings threshold 95.00 97.00 Standard rate 123.06 124.88 Statutory Paternity Pay Earnings threshold 95.00 97.00 Standard Rate 123.06 124.88 Statutory Sick Pay Earnings threshold 95.00 97.00 Standard rate 79.15 79.15 Widow's Benefit Widowed mother's allowance 95.25 97.65 Widow's pension standard rate 95.25 97.65 age-related age 54 (49) 88.58 90.81 53 (48) 81.92 83.98 52 (47) 75.25 77.14 51 (46) 68.58 70.31 50 (45) 61.91 63.47 49 (44) 55.25 56.64 48 (43) 48.58 49.80 47 (42) 41.91 42.97 46 (41) 35.24 36.13 45 (40) 28.58 29.30 Note: For deaths occurring before 11 April 1988 refer to age-points shown in brackets. Bereavement Benefit Bereavement payment (lump sum) 2,000.00 2,000.00 Widowed parent's allowance 95.25 97.65 Bereavement Allowance standard rate 95.25 97.65 age-related Age 54 88.58 90.81 53 81.92 83.98 52 75.25 77.14 51 68.58 70.31 50 61.91 63.47 49 55.25 56.64 48 48.58 49.80 47 41.91 42.97 46 35.24 36.13 45 28.58 29.30