Pensioners will gain an income boost in 2026 thanks to the triple lock.
The State Pension increases at the start of every new tax year on April 6 (Image: Getty)
State Pensioners across the UK are in line for an income boost in 2026 as new payment rates take effect from April.
Every year the government increases the State Pension rates, with the rise determined by the highest figure 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%. In November, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed in the Autumn Budget that the government is continuing its commitment to the triple lock and State Pension rates will rise by 4.8% in April, in line with average wage growth, as this was the highest figure out of the triple lock factors, above inflation and the 2.5% minimum floor for increases.
The 4.8% rise in 2026 means that state pensioners who receive the full new State Pension will be £575 better off per year from April when the new rates take effect.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Currently, it tops up your weekly income to £227.10 if you’re single, or to £346.60 if you have a partner. But from April, the single weekly rate will rise to approximately £238 per week, while the joint weekly rate will rise to approximately £363.23. So those getting the single rate will get around £10.90 extra per week, while those on the joint rate will get around £16.63 extra per week.
Over a full year, this will provide those who are single with an estimated £566.80 more annually, while couples will be an estimated £895.96 better off per year.
