- Published
The new state pension is expected to rise by £488 a year, as a result of the triple lock arrangement.
asserted
pension → publish → arrangement
The triple lock guarantees that the state pension goes up each year in line with either inflation, wage increases or 2.5% - whichever is the highest.
asserted
whichever → guarantee → inflation
The age at which millions of people can claim their state pension has started to increase from 66 to 67.
uncertain
millions → claim → 67
The state pension is a payment made every four weeks by the government, to people who have reached the qualifying age and have paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions.
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who → make → contributions
Since 6 April 2026:
the new flat-rate state pension - for those who reached state pension age after April 2016 - is £241.30 a week, or £12,547.60 a year
the old basic state pension - for those who reached state pension age before April 2016 - is £184.90 a week, or £9,614.80 a year
Many people on the old basic state pension may also receive the additional state pension, external.
uncertain
people → reach → pension
In general, you need 35 years of qualifying contributions to get a full state pension.
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you → need → pension
Some people may have gaps in their NI record if, for example, they have lived abroad or taken time off to care for children.
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they → have → children
It is possible to make voluntary payments to boost your contribution history.
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It → make → history
Since April 2025, you have only been able to make payments for the previous six years.
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you → make → years
Data suggested that the state pension will increase in April 2027, meaning:
the flat-rate state pension - for those who reached state pension age after April 2016 – will likely be £250.70 a week, or £13,036.40 a year, up £488 on now
the old basic state pension - for those who reached state pension age before April 2016 – will likely be £192.10 a week, or £9,989.20 a year, up £374.40 on now
The government will confirm the rise, possibly in October's Budget.
How does the state pension 'triple lock' work?
Under the triple lock system, the state pension increases each April in line with whichever of three measures is the highest:
inflation in the September of the previous year, using a measure called the Consumer Prices Index (CPI)
the average increase in total wages, including bonuses, across the UK for May to July of the previous year
or 2.5%
The rise in wages of 3.9% is likely to determine the April 2027 state pension increase.
The triple lock was introduced by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in 2010.
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lock → suggest → 2010
It was designed to ensure the value of the state pension wasn't overtaken by the increase in the cost of living or the incomes of working people.
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value → design → people
The Labour government has previously said it would keep the triple lock until the end of the current Parliament.
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it → say → Parliament
But since that commitment, there has been intense debate over the cost of the triple lock and whether it is justified.
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it → justify → lock
In July 2025, the government's official forecaster said the cost of the triple lock guarantee was set to be three times higher by the end of the decade than was originally anticipated when it began.
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it → say → decade
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said the annual cost is set to reach £15.5bn by 2030.
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cost → say → 2030
It said the cost of the state pension has risen steadily over the past eight decades, and now equates to £138bn, or around half the total amount the government spent on benefits.
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government → say → benefits
Earlier in July, the influential Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank suggested that the triple lock should be scrapped as part of a wider pensions overhaul.
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lock → suggest → overhaul
Will state pensioners pay income tax?
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pensioners → pay → tax
The expected increase in April 2027 would take the flat-rate state pension above the personal allowance of £12,570 and so liable to pay about £91 next year in income tax.
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increase → expect → tax
The Labour government - when Rachel Reeves was chancellor - pledged that pensioners who rely solely on the state pension would not be required to complete a tax return, nor be chased to pay.
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who → pledge → return
However, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds was non-committal, saying that it was a decision for the new chancellor, John Healey, in the Budget.
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it → say → Budget
The majority of pensioners are already income taxpayers owing to the addition of other pension income, on top of the state pension.
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majority → owe → pension
What is the state pension age and how is it changing?
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it → change → ?
Almost 13 million people currently receive the state pension.
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people → receive → pension
Men and women born between 6 October 1954 and 5 April1960 start receiving their pension at the age of 66.
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Men → bear → 66
But for people born after this date, the state pension age is increasing in two phases:
a gradual rise to 67 for those born on, or after, 5 April 1960
a gradual rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046 for those born on, or after, 5 April 1977
The rise from 66 to 67 began in April 2026.
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rise → bear → April
The first affected are those born between 6 April and 5 May 1960, who will have to wait an extra month.
uncertain
who → affect → month
The increase is expected to save the Treasury about £10bn a year by 2030.
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increase → expect → 2030
But charities have warned that it will disproportionately affect areas of the UK where life expectancy is lower, and those on lower incomes.
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expectancy → warn → incomes
A government review is considering whether to delay the second phase, which would currently take the state pension age to 68 between 2044 and 2046.
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which → consider → 2044
Depending on their overall income, those above retirement age may also be entitled to pension credit, external in addition to the basic state pension.
uncertain
those → depend → pension
Pension credit increased by 4.8% in April 2026.
asserted
credit → increase → April
If your income is above the stated limits, you may still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability or care for someone.
uncertain
you → state → someone
Anyone who qualifies for pension credit may also be entitled to other financial support, including housing benefit, a reduction in council tax, help with heating costs and the warm home discount scheme.
uncertain
who → qualify → costs
The Aporia
