New and Basic weekly State Pension payment rates in 2026

State Pension payment rates will be in place until April next year.

07:46, 08 May 2026Updated 10:43, 08 May 2026

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Millions of pensioners across the country will see an increase in their State Pension this month after the annual uprating was applied to payments last month. The 2026 payment rates for the New and Basic State Pension will be in place until April, 2027.

Retirees on the full New State Pension will receive £241.30 a week, while those on the maximum Basic State Pension will receive £184.90 per week. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issues the payments weekly, fortnightly and every four weeks – frequency is determined by the payment cycle agreed when someone claims the contributory benefit.

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, CPI inflation rate in the year to September, or 2.5 per cent.

READ MORE: Nearly half a million State Pensioners missing out on higher payments this yearREAD MORE: New call to scrap State Pension Triple Lock and let people access payments earlier

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

The full New State Pension has increased by around £574 to £12,547 over the 2026/27 financial year. However, this leaves just £36 before the Personal Allowance income threshold of £12,570 is exceeded which could see more pensioners with any additional income pay tax in retirement.

The UK Government recently confirmed new measures will be put in place by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) this year to ensure pensioners – whose sole income is the State Pension – will not need to complete a Simple Self Assessment tax return if their payment takes them over the Personal Allowance threshold of £12,570.

This is because the Personal Allowance will remain frozen at £12,570 until April 2031.

It’s important to remember 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’.

New State Pension payment rates 2026/27

Full New State Pension

Weekly: £241.30 (from £230.25)Four-weekly pay period: £965.20Annual amount: £12,547

Full Basic State Pension

Weekly: £184.90 (from £176.45)Four-weekly pay period: £739.60Annual amount: £9,614

Other State Pension rates

Category B (lower) Basic State Pension – spouse or civil Partner’s insurance: £110.75 (from £105.70)Category C or D – non-contributory: £110.75 (from £105.70)

Full details on Additional State Pension, Widows Pension, increments and Invalidity Allowance can be found on GOV.UK.

State Pension and tax

Guidance on GOV.UK states: “You pay tax if your total annual income adds up to more than your Personal Allowance. Find out about your Personal Allowance and Income Tax rates.

Your total income could include:

the State Pension you get – Basic or New State PensionAdditional State Pensiona private pension (workplace or personal) – you can take some of this tax-freeearnings from employment or self-employmentany taxable benefits you getany other income, such as money from investments, property or savingsCheck if you have to pay tax on your pension

Before you can check, you will need to know:

if you have a State Pension or a private pensionhow much State Pension and private pension income you will get this tax year (April 6 to April 5)the amount of any other taxable income you’ll get this tax year (for example, from employment or state benefits)

You cannot use this tool if you get:

any foreign incomeMarriage AllowanceBlind Person’s Allowance

Use this online tool at GOV.UK to check if you have to pay tax on your pension. The full guide to tax when you get a pension can be found on GOV.UK here.

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