New state pensioners will receive up to £575 extra per year from April 2026 under the Triple Lock guarantee, which increases payments by 4.8% in line with wage growth.
Alex Evans Deputy Audience Editor
18:02, 21 Dec 2025
DWP confirms £575 state pension boost for new pensioners from April 2026(Image: PixeloneStocker via Getty Images)
New state pensioners born in specific years are set to receive an additional £575 annually from 2026 – and if they have no other income, this will remain tax-free. The state pension is legally bound to rise each year based on one of three factors – inflation, wage growth or a flat 2.5%.
In November, Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged to uphold the Triple Lock on pensions, ensuring that the state pension will see a further increase of 4.8% in April 2026, in accordance with wage growth.
This Triple Lock enhancement is projected to provide up to an extra £575 per annum for new state pensioners who have a complete National Insurance record.
It has been confirmed that the Triple Lock will result in a £575 boost for new state pensioners starting from April 2026. This is due to the key average earnings figure being established at 4.8%, which surpasses both inflation and the minimum 2.5% threshold for increases.
As such, state pensioners born on or after 6 April 1951 for men or 6 April 1953 for women will be eligible to claim the new state pension upon reaching the current state pension age of 66. This age requirement is set to increase to 67 in the near future, allowing these individuals to benefit from the additional funds, reports the Express.
Elderly individuals who reached state pension age prior to 2016 will also receive the same 4.8% increase to their basic state pension, although the basic pension is set at a lower weekly rate, resulting in a smaller overall rise. These older state pensioners will see their payments climb from £176.45 to roughly £184.92, while those on the new state pension will witness an increase from the current £230.25 to £241.30 per week.
Importantly, both of these amounts remain under the £12,570 Personal Allowance threshold for income tax, though the total annual income for new state pensioners, at £12,548, is perilously close to this limit.
There has been no alteration to the taxation rules for state pensioners, who have always been subject to tax even after beginning to draw their state pension. However, those without any additional income or savings in 2026 will not be taxed on their state pension income alone.
Adding to this, Rachel Reeves confirmed that state pensioners will not be required to pay tax on their state pension payments in the future when the Triple Lock surpasses the £12,570 threshold. This is due to the government implementing a special exemption for state pensioners whose sole income derives from the state pension.
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