State Pension payments in 2026/27 have increased by 4.8% (Image: Getty)
State pensioners across the UK will continue to get a cash boost in July following a State Pension uplift which kicked in earlier this year.
The start of the 2026/27 tax year on April 6 introduced an array of benefits and pensions increases, which claimants will continue to reap the benefits of next month. Among the benefits to increase was the State Pension which increased by 4.8% in line with the triple lock. The triple lock is the system used to determine exactly how much the State Pension rises each year based on whichever is the highest out of three factors: the consumer price index (CPI) measure of inflation (measured for September in the previous year), average wage growth between May and July of the previous year, or 2.5%. As average wage growth was the highest out of these three factors at 4.8%, State Pension rates have increased by this amount for the 2026/27 tax year.
The April uplift means pensioners now receive increased State Pension payments each month and will continue to reap the benefits of the 4.8% increase in July – and every month that follows until next April.
State Pension payments can sometimes be disrupted from month to month due to bank holidays, meaning pensioners have to make their cash last a little longer before their next payment arrives. But payments are due to go out as normal in July, so pensioners can expect to receive their cash on their usual payment date.
The State Pension is typically paid every four weeks and when you first claim it, you choose the date when you want to receive your payment.
Pensioners can determine their usual State Pension payment day by looking for the two-digit code at the end of their National Insurance number, as this specifies the date on which payments are normally issued. This is how National Insurance numbers correspond to payment days:
- 00 to 19 – paid on Monday
- 20 to 39 – paid on Tuesday
- 40 to 59 – paid on Wednesday
- 60 to 79 – paid on Thursday
- 80 to 99 – paid on Friday
The DWP said: “You’ll be asked when you want to start getting your State Pension when you claim. Your first payment will be no later than 5 weeks after the date you choose. You’ll get a full payment every 4 weeks after that.
“You might get part of a payment before your first full payment. The letter confirming your State Pension payment will tell you what to expect.
“The day your pension is paid depends on your National Insurance number. You might be paid earlier if your normal payment day is a bank holiday.”
Men born before April 6, 1951, and women born before April 6, 1953, receive the basic State Pension, which is now worth a maximum of £184.90 per week, or up to £739.60 in each four-week payment period if you’re eligible for the full rate.
Over a full year, the new 2026/27 rate is worth £9,614.80, up from £9,175.40, for an overall maximum annual increase of £439.40.
To get the full amount, a man born between 1945 and 1951 usually requires 30 qualifying National Insurance years, while men born before 1945 require 44 qualifying years. For women, you’ll need 30 qualifying years if you were born between 1950 and 1953, or 39 qualifying years if you were born before 1950.
If you have less than the full number of qualifying National Insurance years, then your basic State Pension will be less than £184.90 per week in the 2026/27 tax year.
Men born on or after April 6, 1951, and women born on or after April 6, 1953, get the new State Pension, which is now worth a maximum of £241.30 per week, or around £965.20 in each four-week payment period if you get the full amount.
Over a full year this amounts to a maximum of £12,547.60 in pension payments, up from £11,973 previously, giving pensioners eligible for the full rate an extra £574.60 annually.
The figures are based on the maximum possible amount for those with a full qualifying National Insurance record, so those without enough qualifying years will receive less.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the Government’s commitment to the triple lock means pensioners’ incomes will rise by up to £2,100 over this Parliament, and this year’s uprating will help millions across the UK facing cost of living pressures.
Commenting on the 4.8% increase in April, Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said: “After a lifetime of work and contribution, people deserve a decent retirement.
“Raising the State Pensions faster than prices, ensuring it is a pension they can rely on, is how we make that a reality for millions.”