Pensioners to get £575 boost in 2026, proving that the upcoming new year will be full of surprises. However, some may miss out on the payment boost if they were born before a certain year. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has outlined the eligibility criteria that must be met to qualify for the £575 boost, as well as the date on which the boost will be official. Discover what criteria must be met to determine whether you may qualify for the welcome boost in the new year.

2026 will be a year full of surprises

It should not come as a surprise that the State Pension rates will increase in 2026. The UK Government’s Triple Lock system was implemented in 2011/2012 to ensure that state pensioners received a pension amount that kept up with the value of both the cost of living and people’s earnings. What is surprising to most is that some pensioners will receive a £575 boost to their pensions in 2026, while others will not.

Unfortunately, some pensioners will receive a lower pension boost, which will affect those who were born before a specific year. When we look at the bright side, at least it is still a guaranteed increase, no matter how much. Fortunately, the increase in both will be higher than the rate of inflation in 2026, which offers some form of consolation. How much will you get in 2026?

Pensioners to get £575 boost in 2026

Some lucky pensioners are in for a surprise boost to their pensions in 2026, as the Triple Lock system has ensured that the State Pension increases with the average annual earnings growth of 4.8%, which is an entire 1% higher than the rate of inflation this year. This phenomenon has resulted in a welcome £575 boost to the new State Pension, but not all pensioners will receive this boost.

Pensioners born before this year may miss out on the £575 boost

Britons who claim the Basic State Pension will receive a different boost to their pensions, and thus earn a different pension income in 2026 compared to those who claim the New State Pension.

All male pensioners born on or before 5 April 1951 and all female pensioners born on or before 5 April 1953 can expect a £439.40 boost in 2026. The new Basic State Pension will be £184.90 weekly, which is £8.45 higher than the current rate.

The date on which the boost will be official

According to the information on the official DWP website, beneficiaries of the following benefit programmes received an average of £150 increase to their benefits on 6 April this year after the prior Triple Lock:

Disability Living Allowance
Carers Allowance
Child Benefit
Universal Credit

The final increase amounts to other benefits will most likely be made official after the increase to the State Pension in the new fiscal year, starting April 2026. Many people were excited after the increases were implemented in April this year, with the Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, stating the following:

“Our ironclad commitment to the Triple Lock gives pensioners across the country the certainty and security they need to live a full life in retirement. We are putting more money in people’s pockets and driving up household income as part of our Plan for Change.”

The new year will indeed be a year full of surprises. However, not all of the surprises in 2026 will be widely celebrated by all. Numerous speculations are still heard through the grapevine regarding the upcoming Autumn Budget speech in a little over a week. Some of these speculations have resulted in a significant domino effect, particularly the one that led to thousands of pensioners choosing to downsize as a result of the potential Inheritance Tax shake-up. Are these decisions premature? Only time will tell.

Disclaimer: This content is informational only and does not supersede or replace the Department for Work and Pensions’ or HMRC’s own publications and notices. Always verify any specific dates and amounts by following the direct links in our article to the institutions or by consulting your local DWP field office or tax advisor.