The State Pension increases at the start of every new tax year on April 6 (Image: Getty)
State Pensioners across the UK will benefit from a cash boost in 2026 as new payment rates take effect from April.
The State Pension increases at the start of every new tax year in April and the amount rates go up is determined by the highest out of three factors – known as the ‘triple lock’. These are the consumer price index (CPI) measure of inflation (measured for September in the previous year), average wage growth between May and July of the previous year, or 2.5%. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the new rates from April, with the State Pension set to rise by 4.8% in line with average wage growth – the highest out of the triple lock factors, above inflation and the 2.5% minimum floor for increases.
The 4.8% rise means that pensioners who receive the full new State Pension will be £575 better off per year from April 6 when the new rates take effect.
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But as the UK’s State Pension system is split into two schemes – basic and new – the amount that pension payments will increase from April 6, 2026, depends on when you retired and your National Insurance record.
1. Basic State Pension
Men born before April 6, 1951, and women born before April 6, 1953, receive the basic State Pension and will see their pensions increase by 4.8% from April.
It means the full basic State Pension will increase from £176.45 to £184.90 per week, giving pensioners a weekly payment increase of £8.45.
Over a full year this would amount to a total of £9,614.80 in pension payments (up from £9.175.40), giving those getting the full rate an extra £439.40 annually.
Of course, you need to have a certain number of qualifying years of National Insurance to get this full amount, which for a man is usually 30 qualifying years if you were born between 1945 and 1951, or 44 qualifying years if you were born before 1945.
For women, you’ll need 30 qualifying years if you were born between 1950 and 1953, or 39 qualifying years if you were born before 1950.
If you have less than the full number of qualifying National Insurance years then your basic State Pension will be less than £184.90 per week from April 2026.
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2. New State Pension
Men born on or after April 6, 1951, and women born on or after April 6, 1953, are eligible to claim the new State Pension once you reach State Pension age, which is currently 66.
People claiming this pension will also see their payments increase by 4.8% from April, with the full rate rising from £230.25 per week to £241.30 in 2026.
Over a full year this amounts to a total of £12,547.60 in pension payments (up from (£11,973), giving pensioners on the full rate an extra £574.60 annually.
HM Treasury said: “Thanks to our commitment to the pension Triple Lock for this parliament, pensioners on the full new State Pension across the UK are set to receive an extra £575 a year, which they’ll start seeing from April 2026.”
3. Pension Credit
The standard minimum guarantee for Pension Credit is also rising by 4.8% from April. The benefit provides extra money to those over State Pension age and on a low income to help with living costs.
From April, the single weekly rate will rise from £227.10 per week to £238, giving claimants an extra £10.90 each week, or £566.80 more per year.
The joint weekly rate is rising from £346.60 per week to £363.25 from April, giving claimants £16.65 more each week, or £865.80 extra annually.
