The state pension will increase by 4.8% from next April under the Triple Lock Guarantee. However, around 450,000 Brits could miss out on the boost despite paying the necessary amount of National Insurance Contributions.
State pensions increase every year due to the Triple Lock. This policy increases payment rates in line with whichever is highest of average annual earnings growth, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 2.5%. As wage growth increased the most of the metric at 4.8%, the full new State Pension will increase to £241.30 every week from April 2026, an annual rise of around £575. Meanwhile, the full basis State Pension will increase to £184.90 per week, an annual increase of around £440.
However, as reported by the Daily Record, an estimated 453,000 pensioners will not be entitled to the annual state pension uprating. This is despite having paid the necessary amount of National Insurance Contributions to receive the state pension.
They will not be entitled to the cash boost because they live in a country which does not have a reciprocal agreement with the UK Government. Despite work from the End Frozen Pensions campaign, expats will receive a lower state pension than residents in Britain.
The state pension is frozen at the point of emigration for people who are mostly living in Commonwealth countries, such as Canada and Australia. However, retirees living in the USA or EU countries are eligible for the same state pension conditions as if they had remained in the UK.
Around half of the 453,000 affected pensioners are receiving £65 per week or less. Meanwhile, around 86% of all expats are being told their state pension will be frozen, with campaigners saying some are receiving as little as £20 a week.
Someone on the full New State Pension currently receives £230.25 per week, or £921 every four-week pay period. Those on the full Basic State Pension receive £176.45 each week, or £705.80 every four-week pay period.
It was previously hoped that the appointment of Mark Carney, the former Governor of the Bank of England, as Canadian Prime Minister would help the situation. It is estimated that around 10,000 expats in Canada will be affected.