Guidance

A2/2025: War Pensions uprating for the financial year ending March 2026

Updated 28 February 2025

Who should read

All Housing Benefit colleagues and wider if appropriate

Action

For information

Subject

War Pensions uprating for the financial year ending March 2026

Guidance Manual

The information in this circular does not affect the content of the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual.

Queries

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If you want to ask about the technical content of this circular, contact: housing.policyenquiries@dwp.gov.uk.

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Crown Copyright 2025

Recipients may freely reproduce this circular.

War Pensions uprating for the financial year ending March 2026

1. The Ministry of Defence has announced the new War Pension rates for the financial year ending (FYE) March 2026. The rates are set out in Annex A.

2. The annual uprating of War Pensions and allowances for the FYE March 2026 will take place from the week beginning 7 April 2025. The effective date of change will be the following Monday 14 April 2025.

3. Rates for FYE March 2026 are increasing by 1.7% in line with the September 2024 Consumer Price Index.

4. Additional information can be found in the Veterans UK section on www.gov.uk.

5. Circular HB A11/2024 provides full details of all social security benefit rates that will apply from April 2025.

Annex A: War Pensions rates

War Pensions Scheme benefits April 2024 £ Weekly April 2025 £ Weekly
Armed Forces Independence Payment 184.30 187.45
War Pensions: Disablement Pension (100% rates) officer (£ per annum) 12,262.00 12,471.00
War Pensions: Other ranks 235.00 239.00
Age allowances payable from age 65: 40% - 50% 15.70 15.95
Age allowances payable from age 65: Over 50% but not over 70% 24.20 24.60
Age allowances payable from age 65: Over 70% but not over 90% 34.40 35.00
Age allowances payable from age 65: Over 90% 48.40 49.20
Disablement gratuity (one-off payment): Specified minor injury (min) 1,497.00 1,522.00
Disablement gratuity (one-off payment): Specified minor injury (max) 11,176.00 11,366.00
Disablement gratuity (one-off payment): 1 – 5% gratuity 3,737.00 3,801.00
Disablement gratuity (one-off payment): 6 – 14% gratuity 8,308.00 8,449.00
Disablement gratuity (one-off payment):15 – 19% gratuity 14,530.00 14,777.00
Supplementary allowances: Unemployability allowance: Personal 145.20 147.65
Supplementary allowances: Unemployability allowance: Adult dependency increase 80.70 82.05
Supplementary allowances: Unemployability allowance: Increase for first child 18.80 19.10
Supplementary allowances: Unemployability allowance: Increase for subsequent children 22.05 22.40
Invalidity allowance: Higher rate 28.70 29.20
Invalidity allowance: Middle rate 18.80 19.10
Invalidity allowance: Lower rate 9.40 9.55
Constant attendance allowance: Exceptional rate Full day 177.40 180.40
Constant attendance allowance: Intermediate rate Full day 133.05 135.30
Constant attendance allowance:Basic rate Full day 88.70 90.20
Constant attendance allowance:Part day rate 44.35 45.10
Comforts allowance: Higher rate 38.20 38.80
Comforts allowance: Lower rate 19.10 19.40
Mobility supplement 84.55 86.00
Allowance for lowered standard occupation (maximum) 88.60 90.12
Therapeutic earnings limit (annual rate) 9,542.00 10,166.00
Exceptionally severe disablement allowance 88.70 90.20
Severe disablement occupational allowance 44.35 45.10
Clothing allowance (£ per annum) 303.00 308.00
Education allowance (£ per annum) (max) 120.00 120.00
Widow(er)s benefits: Widow(er) – other ranks (basic with children) (weekly amount) 178.20 181.25
Widow(er)s benefits: Widow(er) – Officer higher rate both wars (basic with children) (per annum) £9,478.00 £9,639.00
Widow(er)s benefits: Childless widow(er) under 40 (other ranks)(weekly amount) 42.69 43.42
Widow(er)s benefits: Widow(er) – officer lower rate both wars (per annum) 3,292.00 £3,348.00
Supplementary 1973 Widows/Widowers pension 119.23 121.26
Supplementary 1973 Widows/Widowers pension: Age allowance: (a) age 65 to 69 20.35 20.70
Supplementary 1973 Widows/Widowers pension: Age allowance: (b) age 70 to 79 39.05 39.70
Supplementary 1973 Widows/Widowers pension: Age allowance: (c) age 80 and over 58.00 59.00
Children’s allowance: Increase for first child 27.95 28.45
Children’s allowance: Increase for subsequent children 31.15 31.70
Orphan’s pension: Increase for first child 32.00 32.55
Orphan’s pension: Increase for subsequent children 35.00 35.60
Unmarried dependant living as spouse (max) 175.85 178.90
Rent allowance (maximum) 67.05 68.20
Adult orphan’s pension (maximum) 137.00 139.35