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| How much is the state pension going up and what is the triple lock? | |
| (5 months later) | |
| The new full state pension will rise by £472 a year from 6 April. | |
| The increase is linked to wages, which have risen by 4.1%. | |
| Under an arrangement called the "triple lock", the state pension goes up each year by the highest of 2.5%, inflation, or earnings growth. | |
| What is the state pension and how much is it going up? | |
| The state pension is a payment made every four weeks by the government, to people who have reached the qualifying age and have paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions. | |
| In April 2025, the earnings link means the state pension will increase by 4.1%, making it worth: | In April 2025, the earnings link means the state pension will increase by 4.1%, making it worth: |
| £230.25 a week for the full, new flat-rate state pension, external (for those who reached state pension age after April 2016) - a rise of £472 a year | £230.25 a week for the full, new flat-rate state pension, external (for those who reached state pension age after April 2016) - a rise of £472 a year |
| £176.45 a week for the full, old basic state pension, external (for those who reached state pension age before April 2016) - a rise of £363 a year | £176.45 a week for the full, old basic state pension, external (for those who reached state pension age before April 2016) - a rise of £363 a year |
| In general, you need 35 years of qualifying contributions to get a full state pension. | |
| Some people may have gaps in their NI record if, for example, they have lived abroad or taken time off to care for children. | |
| You can make voluntary payments to boost your contribution history. At the moment these top-ups can go back to 2006, but from 6 April you will only be able to make payments for the previous six years. | |
| Check your state pension age, external | |
| Check your state pension forecast and whether you can increase it, external | |
| What is the state pension 'triple lock'? | |
| Under the triple lock system, the state pension increases each April in line with whichever of these three measures is highest: | Under the triple lock system, the state pension increases each April in line with whichever of these three measures is highest: |
| inflation in the September of the previous year, using a measure called the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) | inflation in the September of the previous year, using a measure called the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) |
| the average increase in total wages across the UK for May to June of the previous year | the average increase in total wages across the UK for May to June of the previous year |
| or 2.5% | or 2.5% |
| The triple lock was introduced by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in 2010. | The triple lock was introduced by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in 2010. |
| It was designed to ensure the value of the state pension was not overtaken by the increase in the cost of living or the incomes of working people. | It was designed to ensure the value of the state pension was not overtaken by the increase in the cost of living or the incomes of working people. |
| Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the Labour government will keep the triple lock until the end of the current Parliament. | Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the Labour government will keep the triple lock until the end of the current Parliament. |
| The big questions on the future of the triple lock | The big questions on the future of the triple lock |
| The fight over women's state pensions | The fight over women's state pensions |
| What is the state pension age and how is it changing? | What is the state pension age and how is it changing? |
| More than 12 million people currently receive the state pension. | More than 12 million people currently receive the state pension. |
| Men and women born between 6 October, 1954 and 5 April, 1960 start receiving their pension at the age of 66. | Men and women born between 6 October, 1954 and 5 April, 1960 start receiving their pension at the age of 66. |
| But for people born after this date, the state pension age is increasing: | But for people born after this date, the state pension age is increasing: |
| a gradual rise to 67 for those born on, or after, 5 April 1960 | a gradual rise to 67 for those born on, or after, 5 April 1960 |
| a gradual rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046 for those born on, or after, 5 April 1977 | a gradual rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046 for those born on, or after, 5 April 1977 |
| The International Longevity Centre, a think tank, argues that the UK will have to increase the state pension age to 71 by 2050,, external to keep the cost sustainable. | |
| The state pension cost £124.1bn in 2023-2024, just under half the total amount the government spent on benefits. | |
| What is pension credit and how much is it going up? | |
| Depending on their overall income, those above retirement age may also be entitled to pension credit, external in addition to the basic state pension. | Depending on their overall income, those above retirement age may also be entitled to pension credit, external in addition to the basic state pension. |
| From April 2025, pension credit will also increase by 4.1% meaning it will top up weekly income to: | |
| £227.10 if you are single - a rise of £465 a year | £227.10 if you are single - a rise of £465 a year |
| £346.60 if you have a partner - a rise of £710 a year | £346.60 if you have a partner - a rise of £710 a year |
| If your income is above the stated limits, you may still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability or care for someone. | If your income is above the stated limits, you may still be eligible for pension credit if you have a disability or care for someone. |
| Anyone who qualifies for pension credit may also be entitled to other financial support, including housing benefit, a reduction in council tax, help with heating costs and the warm home discount scheme, external. | Anyone who qualifies for pension credit may also be entitled to other financial support, including housing benefit, a reduction in council tax, help with heating costs and the warm home discount scheme, external. |
| Check if you can get pension credit, external | Check if you can get pension credit, external |
| How much is the winter fuel payment and how are the rules changing? | How much is the winter fuel payment and how are the rules changing? |
| Since winter 2024/2025, only those on pension credit or other means-tested benefits are eligible for the winter fuel payment. | |
| Previously, everyone in England and Wales born before 25 September 1957 was entitled to the payment, which is worth either £200 or and £300, depending on your circumstances. | Previously, everyone in England and Wales born before 25 September 1957 was entitled to the payment, which is worth either £200 or and £300, depending on your circumstances. |
| About 10 million people were affected. | |
| Several charities and MPs criticised the policy over fears that hundreds of thousands of people on a relatively small income would miss out because they do not claim pension credit | |
| In September 2024, the government's own analysis suggested around 780,000 pensioners in England and Wales would lose their winter fuel payment as a result of not claiming benefits to which they were entitled. | |
| The Scottish government also said it will end pensioners' universal entitlement to Winter Heating Payment, external. | |
| How much is the winter fuel payment and who can still get it? | |
| Will the pensions increase make up for the loss of winter fuel payments? | Will the pensions increase make up for the loss of winter fuel payments? |