Older state pensioners on the basic State Pension will see their weekly income rise from April 6, 2026, thanks to a 4.8% triple lock increase.
What is changing with State Pensions from April?
State Pension payment rates go up at the start of each new tax year under the triple lock, which increases pensions by various factors such as the highest of CPI inflation, average earnings growth, or 2.5%.
For 2026/27, average wage growth of 4.8% was the highest of the three measures, so both the basic and new State Pension will rise by 4.8% from April 6.
Older pensioners who reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016 and are on the basic State Pension will see the full weekly rate increase from £176.45 to £184.90.
That is an extra £8.45 per week, worth £439.40 over a full year, taking annual income on the full basic State Pension to £9,614.80.
Who counts as an ‘older’ state pensioner?
Men born before April 6, 1951 and women born before April 6, 1953 fall under the basic State Pension system rather than the newer scheme.
They benefit from the same 4.8% rise, but the exact amount they receive still depends on their individual National Insurance record.
National Insurance years and getting the full amount
To receive the full £184.90 basic State Pension from April, most men born between 1945 and 1951 generally need 30 qualifying National Insurance years, while those born before 1945 usually require 44 qualifying years.
Women typically need 30 qualifying years if born between 1950 and 1953, or 39 qualifying years if born before 1950, with those who have fewer qualifying years receiving a reduced weekly amount.
What about people on the new State Pension?
Anyone who retired under the new State Pension system will see the full new State Pension increase from £230.25 to £241.30 per week from April 6. T
hat is a rise of £11.05 per week, worth around £575 extra over a year for those with a full qualifying National Insurance record.
Wider benefit and credit rises from April
Alongside the State Pension uplift, MPs have also backed plans to increase other inflation-linked benefits and tax credits by 3.8% from April 2026.
Universal Credit standard allowances will get a smaller additional uplifts of 2.3% after a separate social security motion was approved in the Commons.
In February, MPs approved a pensions motion confirming the 4.8% State Pension rise from April 2026, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to maintaining the triple lock.
Work and Pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms said the order not only maintains the triple lock for both basic and new State Pension, but also boosts Pension Credit and a range of other benefits for disabled people, carers and those in the labour market for the 2026–27 tax year.
