8 April 2004 - Social security benefits increased from Monday
Millions of people including pensioners will get an increase in their income as new rates for social security benefits come into force from 12 April.
The changes that come into effect mean that all social security benefits rise.
This includes:
Pension Credit will be increased by £3.35 a week for single people (from £102.10 to £105.45) and by £5.15 a week for couples (from £155.80 to £160.95). These changes are in line with earnings. And the saving element threshold will increase so that single pensioners on incomes up to £144 a week and couples on incomes of £211 a week can now get extra money.
Basic State Pension will be increased by £2.15 for a single person and £3.45 for a couple. This takes the Basic State Pension up to £79.60 a week for a single pensioner and £127.25 a week for a couple. These changes are in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI).
Notes for editors
- Most contributory and non-contributory benefits will rise in line with the RPI increase of 2.8%. Most income-related benefits will rise in line with the ROSSI index increase of 1.8% – the ROSSI index is based on RPI less housing costs.
- Income-related benefits are Income Support (IS), Jobseeker's Allowance Income Based (JSA(IB)), Housing Benefit (HB) and Council Tax Benefit (CTB).
- The increases to benefit rates were announced on 10 December 2003. The full list of Social Security benefits for 2004 can be found on
www.dwp.gov.uk/mediacentre/pressreleases/2003/december/dwp101203.asp
For more information contact Tracy Lee or Fiona Ludlow on 020 7238 0725/0782
Press office: 020 7238 0866
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171