State pensioners born in certain years will get an income boost of up to £360 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) this year.
It was announced in the autumn Budget in October last year that both the pensions would be uprated in 2025 to help protect pensioners in their retirement.
The DWP has now confirmed a 4.1% increase to both the basic and new State Pension in the 2025/26 tax year, with the new rates taking effect from April.
Pensioners who get the full basic State Pension will see their payments increase from £169.50 to £176.45 per week. The government has said this amounts to an extra £360 per year for those who receive the full rate.
To get the basic State Pension you need to have been born before April 6, 1951 if you’re a man, or before April 6, 1953 if you’re a woman.
Anyone born on or after these dates is not eligible for the basic State Pension and will claim the new State Pension instead, which is paid at a different rate.
The amount of basic State Pension you get is dependent on your National Insurance record, with those who are entitled to the full amount currently getting £169.50 per week.
You need to have a certain number of qualifying years of National Insurance to get this full amount, which for a man is usually 30 qualifying years if you were born between 1945 and 1951, or 44 qualifying years if you were born before 1945.
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 £169.90 per week.
In some cases you might get more than the full basic State Pension, such as if you are eligible for Additional State Pension or you delayed taking your pension. For every five weeks you defer your basic State Pension will increase by 1%.
The DWP has confirmed the exact amounts the basic State Pension will increase from April, giving retirees who get the full amount up to £6.95 extra per week – or up to £360 over a full year. The new rates from April are:
Basic State Pension
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Category A or B basic pension – rising from £169.50 to £176.45 per week
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Category B (lower) basic pension – spouse or civil partner’s insurance – rising from £101.55 to £105.70 per week
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Category C or D – non-contributory – rising from £101.55 to £105.70 per week
The government said: “To help make sure pensioners are protected in their retirement, we have also confirmed a 4.1% increase to the basic and new State Pension, as well as the standard minimum guarantee for Pension Credit, from April next year.
“Over 12 million pensioners will benefit as the full new State Pension will rise from £221.20 to £230.25 a week, providing an extra £470 a year.
“The full basic State Pension will increase from £169.50 to £176.45 per week, worth an extra £360 annually.”
