State pensioners born in these years will get up to a handy £575 more from the DWP in 2026.
State pensioners will be given another boost in the Budget today (Image: Getty)
The state pension is guaranteed to increase every year based on one of three metrics – inflation, wage growth or a flat 2.5%, and this is enshrined in law.
And in November, Chancellor Rachel Reeves committed to the Triple Lock on pensions, which means that the state pension is guaranteed to rise by another 4.8% in April 2026, in line with wage growth.
The Triple Lock boost is set to give up to £575 extra per year for new state pensioners with a full National Insurance record.
It was confirmed that the Triple Lock is set to give a £575 increase to new state pensioners from April 2026. That’s because the key average earnings figure has been confirmed at 4.8%, which is higher than inflation and of course higher than the 2.5% minimum floor for increases.
Therefore, state pensioners born in these years: on or after April 6, 1951 for men or April 6, 1953 for women, will be eligible to collect the new state pension when they reach state pension age, currently 66, though this is due to rise to 67 in the near future, and get the extra money.
Older state pensioners, who hit state pension age before 2016, will also get the same 4.8% boost to their basic state pension, but the basic pension is set at a lower weekly amount, so the end result is a lower total increase. Older state pensioners will see their payments increase from £176.45 to approximately £184.92, while new state pensioners will see theirs rise from the current £230.25 to £241.30 per week.
Crucially, both of these will still be below the £12,570 Personal Allowance threshold for income tax, though new state pensioners’ total annual income, at £12,548, is mighty close to the threshold.
There has been no change to the tax rules for state pensioners, who have always been liable to pay tax even after collecting their state pension, but those who do not have any other income or savings in 2026 will not pay tax on their state pension income alone.
On top of this, Rachel Reeves confirmed that state pensioners won’t be made to pay tax on their state pension payments in future when the Triple Lock exceeds the £12,570 threshold. That’s because the government is putting in place a special exemption for state pensioners who have no other income apart from the state pension.
