A1/2026: War Pensions uprating for the financial year ending March 2027
Published 16 March 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/housing-benefit-adjudication-circulars-2026/a12026-war-pensions-uprating-for-the-financial-year-ending-march-2027
Who should read
All Housing Benefit colleagues and wider if appropriate.
Action
For information.
Subject
War Pensions uprating for the financial year ending March 2027.
Guidance Manual
The information in this circular does not affect the content of the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual.
Queries
For queries about the:
- technical content of this circular, contact housing.policyenquiries@dwp.gov.uk
- distribution of this circular, contact lawelfare.correspondence@dwp.gov.uk
Extra copies of this circular and copies of previous circulars can be found at Housing Benefit for local authorities: adjudication circulars.
Crown Copyright 2026.
Recipients may freely reproduce this circular.
War Pensions uprating for the financial year ending March 2027
-
The Ministry of Defence has announced the new War Pension rates for the financial year ending (FYE) March 2027. The rates are set out in Annex A.
-
The annual uprating of War Pensions and allowances for the FYE March 2027 will take place from the week beginning 6 April 2026. The effective date of change will be the following Monday 13 April 2026.
-
Rates for the FYE March 2027 are increasing by 3.8% in line with the September 2025 Consumer Price Index.
-
Circular Housing Benefit (HB) A14/2025 provides full details of all social security benefit rates that will apply from April 2026.
Annex A: War Pensions rates
War Pensions Scheme benefits
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Armed Forces Independence Payment | 187.45 | 194.60 |
| War Pensions | April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Disablement Pension (100% rates) officer (annual rate) | 12,471.00 | 12,946.00 |
| Other ranks | 239.00 | 248.10 |
| Age allowances payable from age 65 | April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 40% to 50% | 15.95 | 16.55 |
| Over 50% but not over 70% | 24.60 | 25.55 |
| Over 70% but not over 90% | 35.00 | 36.35 |
| Over 90% | 49.20 | 51.10 |
| Disablement gratuity (one-off payment) | April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Specified minor injury (minimum) | 1,522.00 | 1,580.00 |
| Specified minor injury (maximum) | 11,366.00 | 11,798.00 |
| 1% to 5% gratuity | 3,801.00 | 3,945.00 |
| 6% to 14% gratuity | 8,449.00 | 8,770.00 |
| 15% to 19% gratuity | 14,777.00 | 15,339.00 |
| Supplementary allowances: Unemployability allowance | April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | 147.65 | 153.25 |
| Adult dependency increase | 82.05 | 85.15 |
| Increase for first child | 19.10 | 19.85 |
| Increase for subsequent children | 22.40 | 23.25 |
| Invalidity allowance | April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Higher rate | 29.20 | 30.30 |
| Middle rate | 19.10 | 19.80 |
| Lower rate | 9.55 | 9.90 |
| Constant attendance allowance | April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Exceptional rate Full day | 180.40 | 187.20 |
| Intermediate rate Full day | 135.30 | 140.40 |
| Basic rate Full day | 90.20 | 93.60 |
| Part day rate | 45.10 | 46.80 |
| Comforts allowance | April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Higher rate | 38.80 | 40.30 |
| Lower rate | 19.40 | 20.15 |
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility supplement | 86.00 | 89.25 |
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Allowance for lowered standard occupation (maximum) | 90.12 | 93.56 |
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic earnings limit (annual rate) | 10,166.00 | 10,582.00 |
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Exceptionally severe disablement allowance | 90.20 | 93.60 |
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Severe disablement occupational allowance | 45.10 | 46.80 |
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing allowance (annual rate) | 308.00 | 320.00 |
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Education allowance (annual rate) (max) | 120.00 | 120.00 |
| Widow(er)s benefits | April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Widow(er) – other ranks (basic with children) | 181.25 | 188.15 |
| Widow(er) – Officer higher rate both wars (basic with children) (annual rate) | 9,639.00 | 10,005.00 |
| Childless widow(er) under 40 (other ranks) | 43.42 | 45.07 |
| Widow(er) – officer lower rate both wars (annual rate) | 3,348.00 | 3,475.00 |
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Supplementary 1973 Widows/Widowers pension | 121.26 | 125.87 |
| Age allowance: (a) age 65 to 69 | 20.70 | 21.50 |
| Age allowance: (b) age 70 to 79 | 39.70 | 41.20 |
| Age allowance: (c) age 80 and over | 59.00 | 61.25 |
| Children’s allowance | April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Increase for first child | 28.45 | 29.55 |
| Increase for subsequent children | 31.70 | 32.90 |
| Orphan’s pension | April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Increase for first child | 32.55 | 33.80 |
| Increase for subsequent children | 35.60 | 36.95 |
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Unmarried dependant living as spouse (max) | 178.90 | 185.80 |
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent allowance (maximum) | 68.20 | 70.80 |
| April 2025 weekly (£) | April 2026 weekly (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult orphan’s pension (maximum) | 139.35 | 144.65 |