Benefit rates facts and figures

Child Benefits (weekly)

Eldest child £15.75

Other children £10.55

Eldest child of lone parent £17.55

Maternity Allowance (weekly)

Standard rate £100

Disability and Incapacity Benefits

Attendance Allowance (weekly)

Short-term higher rate £57.20

Short-term lower rate £38.30

(Higher rate for day and night care, lower rate for day or night care.

Individual circumstances may affect the amount people are entitled to).

Disability Living Allowance (weekly)

Tax-free benefit for those needing help with personal care and mobility. The care component provides for ill and disabled people who need help with washing, dressing and so on. The mobility component is for those who cannot or have difficulty walking.

Care component Highest £56.25

Middle £37.65

Lowest £14.90

Mobility component Higher £39.30

Lower £14.90

Carers Allowance

Weekly rate £42.45

Incapacity Benefit (weekly)

Under State pension age

Short-term lower rate £53.50

Short-term higher rate £63.25

Long-term basic rate £70.95

Over State pension age

Short-term lower rate £68.05

Short-term higher rate £70.95

If aged under 45 on day became unable to work

Lower rate £7.45

Higher rate £14.90

Severe Disablement Allowance (weekly)

A tax-free benefit for those unable to work for at least 28 weeks due to illness or disablement, but who have not paid adequate NI contributions to qualify for incapacity benefit.

Basic rate £42.85

Increase Incapacity under 40 £14.90

40-50 £9.50

50-60 £4.75

Addition may be payable for dependent adults and children.

Contribution-based JobSeeker's Allowance (weekly)

Person aged 16 to 17 £32.50

Person aged between 18-24 £42.70

Person aged 25 and over £53.95

Income-based JobSeeker's Allowance (weekly)

Single people Aged 16 -17 £32.50

Aged 18-24 £42.70

Aged 25 and over £53.95

Couple Both over 18 £84.65

Income Support: Examples of weekly rates

Single person Aged 16-17 (living independently) £32.50

Aged 18-24 (16-17 living independently) £42.70

Aged 25 or over £53.95

Couple Both over 18 £84.65

Child Tax Credit & Working Tax Benefit

No set limit. Depends on annual income.

Pension Credit

Claimants must be aged 60 or over with capital not exceeding £12,000 or £16,000 for those in residential care or nursing homes.

Single person

60 and over £102.10

Couple

60 and over £155.80

Residential/Nursing Home Care Local Authority Support

Upper limit (in England and NI) £19,500

Lower limit (in England and NI) £12,000

Upper limit (in Scotland) £11,500

Lower limit (in Scotland) £18,500

Upper limit (in Wales) £12,250

Lower limit (in Wales) £20,000

Retirement Pension (weekly)

Basic Pension

Based on your own or late spouse's NI contributions £75.45

Based on your spouse's NI contributions £46.35

Non-contributing (based on residence) ' full rate £46.35

Non-contributing (based on residence) ' married woman's rate £27.70

Over 80 addition £0.25

Over 80 pension £46.35

NHS Dental Treatment

If an individual is not entitled to free treatment or help with the cost, then the cost is 80% of the cost of the treatment up to maximum, £372 (as of 1 April 2003).

Basic examination £5.32

Extensive examination £7.96

Simple scale and polish £8.36

Two small x-rays and one small filling from £9.28

One large filling from £14.60

A gold or precious metal crown from £73.28

A full set of plastic dentures from £115.16

An upper or lower metal denture from £101.44

Sight Tests

NHS sight test (from 1 April 2003) *£16.72

NHS sight test at home (from 1 April 2003) *£46.16

* NHS prescriptions, dental treatment and sight tests are free for those on Disability Working Allowance, Income Support and JobSeeker's Allowance.

For more detailed information on social security benefits, visit the DWP website at www.dwp.gov.uk