The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed essential benefit payment dates for June, urging households to check what support they can still access. This follows news that families face another sharp rise in bills after energy regulator Ofgem revealed the energy price cap will increase by £221 per year to £1,862 from July, a jump of almost 13 percent. The increase stems from volatility in global oil and gas markets and will heap further strain on households already dealing with rising costs for food, housing and borrowing.
The DWP has confirmed payments will continue as scheduled throughout June, as no bank holidays will affect the payment timetable. Benefits paid as normal include: Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Universal Credit, State Pension, Pension Credit, and Child Benefit.
The State Pension continues to be paid every four weeks, with the payment date based on the final two digits of a claimant's National Insurance number: 00 to 19 on Monday, 20 to 39 on Tuesday, 40 to 59 on Wednesday, 60 to 79 on Thursday, and 80 to 99 on Friday.
State Pension and Benefit Increases Already in Place
Benefit rates increased in April, with Universal Credit standard allowances rising by 6.2 percent. For a single claimant over 25, the standard allowance rose from £92 per week to £98 per week. Couples over 25 saw payments increase from £145 to £154 per week. Meanwhile, most disability and working-age benefits went up by 3.8 percent. The full new State Pension rose by 4.8 percent in April under the triple lock, bringing payments to £241.05 per week. However, modifications to the health-related component of Universal Credit mean those making new claims now receive £50 weekly rather than £105, while rates for current claimants remain frozen until 2029.
Energy Suppliers and Broadband Providers Offering Assistance
Several leading energy companies continue to provide hardship programmes and grants to customers facing financial difficulties, including British Gas, EDF, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power. Lower-income households may also qualify for reduced-price broadband and water social tariffs, while some families can access up to 100 percent council tax relief based on their personal circumstances.
Additional Support Available to Households
Local authorities across England are now distributing help through the Government's new Crisis and Resilience Fund, which followed the Household Support Fund and discretionary housing payments in April. The programme includes crisis payments for households facing financial emergencies and housing payments to help with rent deposits, rent shortfalls or moving costs. The DWP has directed councils to prioritise a "cash-first" approach wherever feasible. Universal Credit recipients may also qualify for budgeting advance loans worth up to £348 for single people, £464 for couples, and £812 for households with children. These loans carry no interest and are repaid via deductions from subsequent benefit payments.
Despite increasing pressure on household budgets, billions of pounds in available support goes unclaimed annually. According to DWP-referenced figures from Policy in Practice, approximately £24 billion in benefits and assistance is left uncollected by eligible households each year. The DWP has disclosed that approximately 24 million people are currently in receipt of some form of benefit or State Pension assistance, equating to roughly one in three people throughout Britain. At present, no further DWP cost of living payments are planned for 2026, after the previous scheme came to an end in February 2024.
