Universal Credit, PIP and Carer's Allowance change in force – BBC expert says check your account

A BBC finance expert has urged those claiming Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payments and Carer's Allowance to check their accounts following a significant change in May. Personal finance specialist Laura Pomfret appeared on BBC Morning Live alongside hosts Rav Wilding and Holly Hamilton, revealing that benefits claimants have received a welcome boost — but need to confirm the increase has actually landed in their accounts. She pointed out that those who typically receive payments on Monday April 4 should have been paid the preceding Friday due to the bank holiday, with payments rising by 3.8%. Ms Pomfret explained: "So, we've had we've had awful April, which we kept referring to, and but we did see a positive thing in April, which is the increase in benefits, and we've had the first month of that now. "So they've gone up this year by this tax year. So, that's universal credit, personal independent payment, carers allowance, all gone up. So, if you are someone on benefits, you should have got paid on Friday because it's a bank holiday today and so check that you had that higher amount. That's one thing that's really important that you will have seen that increase because we're talking about food prices, we're talking about things going up. Make sure that you've got that increase." Person’s situation // Standard amount before 6 April 2026 // Standard amount from 6 April 2026 Single and under 25 // £316.98 a month // £338.58 a month Single and 25 or over // £400.14 a month // £424.90 a month Living with a partner and both under 25 // £497.55 a month // £528.34 a month Living with a partner and one or both over 25 // £628.10 a month //£666.97 a month The government has confirmed that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) rates increased by 3.8% from April 2026 The new rates apply from 6 April 2026. Daily Living Standard rate: £76.70 per week (up from £73.90). £306.80 per month. Enhanced rate: £114.60 per week (up from £110.40). £458.40 per month. Mobility Standard rate: £30.30 per week (up from £29.20). £121.20 per month. Enhanced rate: £80 per week (up from £77.05). £320 per month. From April 6, 2026, the Carer’s Allowance weekly rate increases to £86.45 (up £3.15). To maintain eligibility, the earnings threshold rises to £204 per week. Other changes include increased payments for the Carer Element of Universal Credit to £209.34 monthly and the Carer Addition for Pension Credit to £48.15 weekly. From 6 April 2026, the weekly Carer's Allowance rate climbs to £86.45 (an increase of £3.15). To remain eligible, the earnings limit rises to £204 per week. Additional changes include the Carer Element of Universal Credit increasing to £209.34 monthly and the Carer Addition for Pension Credit rising to £48.15 weekly. Ms Pomfret also highlighted another change 'affecting some parents'. She said: "We've got a headline, the DWP universal credit change this month that parents need to know. This is removing the restriction on the two-child benefit cap that you may have seen and talked about a lot in the press. "This is now you're going to be able to receive a payment for all the children that you have an entitlement to receive this for. It applies to both new and existing parents both of which will benefit for this. So we've got the £333 all the threes for a month for a first child born before April 6 2017 and then £287.92 a month for each additional child. "And over a year that's worth more than £3,400 per child. So we you weren't getting this. This is a big increase for families at a time when you need it the most. So, it's just like a nice reminder. Make sure we check that we've got what we're entitled to. This is the first month that you should have received it. And because with those food prices, we're going to need it "