If you are part of a couple, have dependants and claim some older non-means-tested benefits then you may qualify for an adult dependant addition or increase. The amount that you get varies between different benefits.

Incapacity Benefit / Severe Disablement Allowance

Incapacity Benefit, and it's predecessor the Severe Disablement Allowance, were available for people who were unable to work due to a health condition or disability and (in the case of Incapacity Benefit) had paid enough National Insurance Contributions at the time of their claim.

Both benefits closed to new claims in October 2008, with people wishing to make a new claim directed to Employment and Support Allowance.

Carers Allowance

New claims for the Carer's Allowance Adult Dependency Increase ended on 6 April 2010 but payments continued until 5 April 2020, as long as you continued to meet the qualifying conditions.

State Retirement Pension

New claims for the State Pension Adult Dependency Increase ended on 6 April 2010 but payments continued until 5 April 2020, as long as you continued to meet the qualifying conditions.

If you are already in receipt of income-related benefits (such as Pension Credit) your entitlements will be reassessed to take account of the removal of the Adult Dependency Increase.

Other benefits

There are no adult dependant additions in contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, Bereavement Allowance and Widowed Parent's Allowance.

Additional amounts may have been claimed for dependant children, though these were replaced by Child Tax Credit for new claimants from 7 April 2003.