People on DWP benefits who are 'in couples' being handed £8,621 top-up

People on DWP benefits who are 'in couples' being handed £8,621 top-upYou have to be claiming one of the following benefits: Housing Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support

Allowance and Pension Credit.NewsJames Rodger Content Editor10:41, 31 May 2025You have to be claiming one of the following benefits: Housing Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and

Support Allowance and Pension Credit. If you claim Personal Independence and other benefits, you may be entitled to additional top-ups, known as disability premium, from the Department for

Work and Pensions ( DWP ). You have to be claiming one of the following benefits: Housing Benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit.

There are three different types of disability premiums. The disability premium is £43.20 a week for a single person and £61.65 a week for a couple. The severe disability premium is £82.90 a

week for a single person and £165.80 a week for a couple if you’re both eligible.

‌ Some couples will be eligible for the lower amount of £81.50 a week instead. The enhanced disability premium is £21.20 a week for a single person or £30.25 a week for a couple if at least

one of you is eligible.

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At the highest rate, £165, you'd potentially get £8,621 between you. To get the disability premium, you or your partner must be under pension credit age and either registered blind or

getting: Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP), Working Tax Credit with a

disability element, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, War Pensioners Mobility Supplement, Severe Disablement Allowance or Incapacity Benefit.

If you do not qualify, you may still get the premium if you’ve been unable to work for at least a year. For the severe rate, you must get the disability premium or income-related ESA, and

one of the following qualifying benefits: PIP daily living component, AFIP, DLA care component at the middle or highest rate, Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the

standard or enhanced rate and Attendance Allowance (or Constant Attendance Allowance paid with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or War Pension).

Article continues below You usually cannot have anyone aged 18 or over living with you, unless they’re in one of these situations: they get a qualifying benefit, they’re registered blind,

they’re a boarder or subtenant (but not a close relative), they make separate payments to the landlord

You cannot get the severe disability premium if someone is getting one of the following for looking after you: Carer’s Allowance, the carers element of Universal Credit or Carer Support

Payment.

You’ll get the higher amount of severe disability premium if both you and your partner are eligible.

Article continues below You can get the lower amount if someone gets Carer’s Allowance, the carers element of Universal Credit or Carer Support Payment for looking after only one of you or

only one of you meets the eligibility criteria and the other is registered blind.

To get the enhanced rate, you must be under pension credit age. You must get the disability premium or income-related ESA, and one of the following: PIP daily living component at the higher

(‘enhanced’) rate, AFIP, DLA care component at the highest rate or Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the enhanced rate.

You’ll also get this if you’re in the support group for income-related ESA.