Some state pensioners under 76 will receive two DWP state pension payments in May 2026, totalling up to £1,930.40, due to the five-week month and when their National Insurance number falls.
14:35, 03 May 2026Updated 14:38, 03 May 2026
Younger state pensioners can get a double payment in May on Fridays(Image: Getty)
Some fortunate younger state pensioners are in line for a bumper May, with two DWP state pension payments potentially totalling up toas much as £1,930.40.
Those who reached state pension age after April 2016 receive a higher weekly payment than older state pensioners, at £241.30 compared to £184.90, following the recent Triple Lock boost which added a further 4.8% in April – though newer state pensioners do not receive any Additional Pension payments.
Both older and newer state pensioners could receive two state pension payments in May, owing to the way the lengthy five-week month falls in the calendar. New state pensioners are those who reached pension age in 2016, meaning they would have been 66 at the time – and up to 76 today.
Although state pension figures are frequently quoted as weekly amounts, DWP payments are actually made every four weeks, reports the Express.
This means that for each four-week period, post-2016 state pensioners can receive up to £965.20 from their basic rate state pension, provided they have a full National Insurance record. The precise date of payment depends on the final two digits of your National Insurance number.
According to the DWP, those whose NI number ends in digits between 80 and 99 are typically paid on Fridays. As May boasts five weeks — and five Fridays — state pensioners with these National Insurance numbers will receive their state pension twice during May 2026, totalling a maximum of £1,930.40. Those with incomplete National Insurance records will receive reduced pension payments, with the exact amount determined by the DWP on an individual basis once they reach state pension age.
The total annual basic state pension for older claimants currently amounts to £12,547.60.
The Chancellor has further announced that, going forward, state pensioners whose income exceeds the £12,570 Personal Tax Allowance will no longer face a tax bill on their state pension, provided it remains their sole source of income. The precise mechanics of how this will be implemented have yet to be disclosed, though HM Treasury has confirmed to the Express that Additional State Pension schemes for older recipients will not be exempt from taxation.