October DWP Benefit and Pension Payment Dates Announced

Managing the Cost of Living: An Ongoing Challenge in the UK

Rising Benefits Claims Amid Economic Pressure

As rising costs continue to outpace income growth, the struggle to manage the cost of living persists for millions across the UK. Recent data shows that one in three residents now rely on benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). According to Policy in Practice, an estimated £23 billion in benefits goes unclaimed every year.

Demographic Breakdown of Benefit Claimants

In February 2025, nearly 24 million people in the UK were beneficiaries of various DWP programs. This includes:

• 13.2 million individuals of State Pension Age
• 10 million of working age
• 800,000 under 16 receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Data from January 2024 highlighted that 6.4 million people were assigned to Universal Credit, with 163,000 households benefiting from the Universal Credit childcare element as of November 2023.

Impact of Rising Living Costs

Rising costs have placed enormous financial pressure on many, with recent research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation projecting a record decline in living standards for low-income families by the next election in 2029.

Energy Prices on the Rise

Ofgem has announced a 2% increase in the energy price cap set to take effect from October 1, affecting households across England, Scotland, and Wales. This adjustment translates to an approximate monthly increase of £2.93 for the average household, raising the annual cost of gas and electricity to £1,755 for those on a standard dual-fuel direct debit plan.

DWP Benefit Payments and Dates

October’s benefit payment dates will proceed as normal since no bank holidays will disrupt the schedule. Payments include:

• Universal Credit
• State pension
• Pension credit
• Child benefit
• Disability living allowance
• Personal independence payment (PIP)
• Attendance allowance
• Carer’s allowance
• Employment support allowance
• Income support
• Jobseeker’s allowance

State pension payments are made directly into bank accounts every four weeks. The payment date corresponds with the last two digits of National Insurance numbers as follows:

Upcoming Changes to Benefit Increases

In April, all benefits saw a 1.7% increase to match September 2024’s inflation rate. This applied to working-age benefits, including Universal Credit, PIP, and others. A significant change is expected next April when Universal Credit claimants will receive an above-inflation increase following Labour’s recent welfare bill. However, the health-related element for new Universal Credit claimants will drop from £105 to £50 and remain unchanged until 2029. Additionally, the state pension will rise by 4.7%, increasing the weekly amount to £241.05.

For more information on benefits and potential support, individuals are encouraged to visit Gov.uk or Emegypt for additional resources.