Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to confirm the triple lock mechanism will increase state pensions by 4.8 per cent from April 2026
Nicholas Dawson and Steven Smith Content Editor
11:39, 25 Nov 2025Updated 11:48, 25 Nov 2025
(Image: coldsnowstorm via Getty Images)
Significant alterations to tax allowances for state pensioners could be coming in the Autumn Budget. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is anticipated to confirm the triple lock mechanism for next year’s state pension increase.
This policy guarantees payments rise according to whichever figure is highest: 2.5 per cent, average earnings growth, or inflation. A major concern regarding these rising payments is that the full new state pension is nearing the threshold of exhausting the entire personal allowance.
The standard allowance allows an individual to earn up to £12,570 annually without paying income tax, reports Yorkshire Live. Nevertheless, the full new state pension currently provides £221.20 weekly, equivalent to £11,973 per year.
The triple lock mechanism is anticipated to boost payments by 4.8 per cent next April, raising the full new amount to £241.30 weekly, or £12,547.60 annually – merely £20 away from consuming the complete allowance.
Mike Ambery, retirement savings director at pension provider Standard Life, indicated there might be modifications to the allowance in the Autumn Budget, which the Chancellor will present on Wednesday, November 26.
He said: “There is a potential of an increase to the personal allowance for pensioners in line with the state pension. Recent above-inflation increases in the state pension have raised concerns that it will soon exceed the personal allowance which has been frozen since 2021.
“Around one in eight pensioners rely solely on state provision in retirement and this group are likely to start paying income tax on state pension payments for the first time from April 2027.”
There could be changes to tax allowances in the Budget(Image: Getty)
Labour has vowed to keep the triple lock in place throughout this Parliament. Yet there are mounting worries that the policy is becoming increasingly unaffordable. The measure has delivered substantial increases in recent years, including a record 10.1 per cent rise in April 2023.
Mr Ambery said: “The state pension is funded by the workers of today, and its costs are set to swell over the coming years as more of our ageing population reach state pension age. Any future reforms or changes to the triple lock will need to carefully balance its long-term affordability with the sizable political risks associated with changing a policy affecting millions of people.
“The state pension age review alongside the revived Pensions Commission presents a unique opportunity to look at the pension system as a whole, including whether the triple lock continues to serve its intended purpose effectively.”
Labour outlined earlier this year there would be another examination of the state pension age. The state pension age currently stands at 66 for both men and women, but is scheduled to gradually increase to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028.
Legislation is already in place to increase the state pension age from 67 to 68 between 2044 and 2046. The previous state pension age review proposed an earlier timeline, but this suggestion was not taken on board by the Conservative Government at the time.