The Tories challenged Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden on means-testing the contributory benefit.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed the Labour Government has no plans to means-test the State Pension. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden made the comments in response to a question from Labour backbencher Catherine Fookes during DWP questions in Parliament on Monday.

The Monmouthshire MP said: “At the Conservative party conference, the shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury called for the State Pension to be means-tested. This has caused deep concern to pensioners in Monmouthshire who have worked hard all their lives and built up modest savings. Under the Conservative party’s plans, they would risk losing their state pension. Will the Secretary of State confirm that, under this Labour Government, the State Pension will remain available to all?”

Mr McFadden responded: “I am happy to say that what (Ms Fookes) says about means-testing is not the Government’s policy, but can the Conservatives confirm whether it is theirs?”

READ MORE: Ex-DWP employee shares reasons State Pension payments can never be means-testedREAD MORE: New and Basic State Pension payment rates from April – check yours now

He continued: “The shadow Chief Secretary let the cat out of the bag. Can she (Helen Whately MP) confirm that this is not her policy, or is it that her leader still sticks to the position she set out earlier this year when she said: ‘We are going to look at means-testing’. Are they still looking at it, or are they not?”

Conservative shadow work and pensions minister Helen Whately deflected the question and focused on Labour’s handling of welfare cuts.

She said: “I am sure that we all remember the fiasco before the summer when the Government tried to make welfare savings and ended up legislating for welfare spending. Since then, the Prime Minister has said that there is a ‘clear moral case’ for welfare cuts, and the Chancellor has said that she ‘can’t leave welfare untouched’. Does the Secretary of State agree?”

The DWP boss replied: “I notice that (Ms Whately) did not want to clarify the position on means-testing the State Pension. Welfare reform is happening all the time. We passed important changes to the Universal Credit system that were voted through by the House and, as I said, we are putting in place important employment support to help not only long-term sick and disabled people but young people into work through many of the policies that I have talked about today.”

Millions of older people are on track for a big State Pension pay rise next April after the final piece of the Triple Lock puzzle was put in place by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last week. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) figure for September was 3.8 per cent, which means the New and Basic State Pensions will rise under the earnings growth measure of 4.8 per cent.

Under the Triple Lock the New and Basic State Pensions increase each year in-line with whichever is the highest between the average annual earnings growth from May to July (4.8%), CPI inflation rate in the year to September (3.8%), or 2.5 per cent.

Additional State Pension elements and deferred State Pensions rise each year with the September CPI figure.

An increase of 4.8 per cent will see those on the full New State Pension receive £241.30 per week, while those on the maximum Basic State Pension would receive £184.90 per week.

It’s important to remember that the amount of State Pension someone receives depends on their National Insurance contributions. To receive the full New State Pension you need around 35 years’ worth, but this may differ if you were ‘contracted out’.

The full New State Pension will increase by around £574 from April 2026 – lifting it to £12,547 per year. The uprating leaves just £36 before the Personal Allowance income threshold of £12,570 is exceeded which would see more pensioners pay tax in retirement.

The Labour Government confirmed earlier this year that the Personal Allowance will remain frozen at £12,570 until April 2028.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will confirm the annual uprating at the Autumn Budget on November 26. An uprating of 4.8 per cent on the current State Pension would see people receive the following amounts.

Full New State PensionWeekly: £241.30 (from £230.25)Four-weekly pay period: £965.20Annual amount: £12,547Full Basic State PensionWeekly: £184.90 (from £176.45)Four-weekly pay period: £739.60Annual amount: £9,614Get the latest Record Money news

Join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group for money-saving tips, the latest State Pension and benefits news, energy bill advice and cost of living updates.

Sign up to our Record Money newsletter and get the top stories sent to your inbox daily from Monday to Friday with a special cost of living edition every Thursday – sign up here.

You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Recordmoney_ for regular updates throughout the day or get money news alerts on your phone by joining our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community.