Every April, benefit rates change. For most people, it’s a small percentage increase that barely registers. But for SEND families juggling DLA, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit, and Child Benefit, even small changes add up quickly.
On 6 April 2026, rates went up by 3.8%, in line with September 2025 CPI inflation. Here’s exactly what changed and what it means for your family’s income.
DLA rates
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) went up across all components. If your child receives DLA, their payments should have increased automatically from the first payment after 6 April.
The amounts might look small week by week. But over a year, the difference between the old and new higher rate care is over £200. For families receiving both higher rate care and higher rate mobility, the combined annual increase is roughly £375.
Check your bank statement after the first DLA payment in April. The amount should be higher than before. If it hasn’t changed, contact the DLA helpline on 0800 121 4600 to confirm your child’s award has been uprated.
Carer’s Allowance
If you claim Carer’s Allowance, the weekly rate went up and the earnings limit also increased.
The earnings limit increase is worth paying attention to. If you were previously just over the limit and couldn’t claim, the higher threshold might bring you back into eligibility. The new limit of £204 per week is after deductions for tax, NI, pension contributions, and eligible childcare costs.
The Carer’s Allowance earnings limit is a cliff edge, not a taper. If you earn £204 per week, you get the full benefit. If you earn £204.01, you get nothing for that week. Check your net earnings carefully.
Universal Credit disabled child additions
If you’re on Universal Credit (UC) with a disabled child, the monthly additions went up too.
The difference between the lower and higher rate is significant. Over a year, the higher rate addition is worth nearly £6,200. The rate your child triggers depends on their DLA. Higher rate care triggers the higher UC addition. Any other DLA rate triggers the lower one.
Child Benefit
Child Benefit increased too, though the amounts are smaller. The eldest or only child now receives £27.05 per week (up from £26.05), and each additional child receives £17.90 per week (up from £17.25).
The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) threshold also changed. The charge doesn’t start until the higher earner in the household earns above the threshold (as of 6 April 2026). If you previously opted out of Child Benefit because of HICBC, check whether the new thresholds mean you should claim again.
Christmas bonus
The annual Christmas bonus for people receiving qualifying benefits (including Carer’s Allowance and DLA) remains at £10. It hasn’t changed since 1972. But it still exists, and it’s paid automatically in December.
What you need to do
For most families, nothing. The increases are applied automatically to existing awards. You don’t need to contact anyone or fill in forms.
But there are a few situations where action is needed:
- Check your payments - Verify that the new rates appear in your first post-April payment
- Reconsider Carer’s Allowance - If you were previously just over the earnings limit, the higher threshold (£204/wk) might make you eligible
- Report DLA to UC - If your child was recently awarded DLA and you haven’t reported it to Universal Credit, do so now to trigger the disabled child addition
- Revisit Child Benefit - If you opted out due to HICBC, check whether the new thresholds affect you
If your earnings fluctuate, be especially careful about this one.
If you receive Carer’s Allowance and your earnings fluctuate (overtime, bonuses, shift patterns), recalculate your net weekly earnings against the new £204 limit. One week over the limit means losing the entire week’s benefit.
The bigger picture
A 3.8% increase broadly keeps pace with inflation. It doesn’t close the gap for families who were already struggling. And some of the most important figures, like the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) maximum grant of £30,000, haven’t been increased at all.
But the increases are real money. For a family receiving DLA higher rate care, Carer’s Allowance, and the UC higher disabled child addition, the combined annual increase is over £700. That’s not nothing.
Getting help
Turn2us has a benefits calculator that uses the current rates to show exactly what your family should be receiving.
Citizens Advice can help check whether you’re receiving everything you’re entitled to at the new rates.
Carers UK offers a free helpline (0808 808 7777) for advice on Carer’s Allowance and the earnings limit.
How our free tool can help
The AI assistant at SEND Parents Help knows the current benefit rates and can help you work out what your family should be receiving. You can ask about specific benefits, how they interact with each other, and whether the rate changes affect your eligibility.
Check your payments
The increases should already be in your payments. If they’re not, something is wrong. Contact the relevant helpline, confirm your award details, and make sure you’re getting what you’re entitled to.
Every pound matters, and these are your entitlements by law.
Sources and further reading
Legislation and official guidance
- Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (full rates tables)
- DLA rates (current DLA rates)
- Carer’s Allowance rates (current CA rate and earnings limit)
- Universal Credit: what you’ll get (UC rates including disabled child additions)
Statistics
- CPI inflation, September 2025 (basis for 3.8% uprating)