Here’s who will and won’t see their State Pension payments rise
Millions of older people receiving the New or Basic State Pension will see a 4.8 per cent increase in payments from 6 April, thanks to the Triple Lock guarantee. Other elements of the State Pension, including deferred rates, will rise by 3.8 per cent.
The Triple Lock ensures that State Pensions increase each year in line with whichever is highest: average annual earnings growth from May to July (4.8%), CPI in the year to September (3.8%) or 2.5 per cent. This adjustment will result in those on the full New State Pension receiving £241.30 per week, while those on the maximum Basic State Pension would receive £184.90 per week.
However, while millions of pensioners across Great Britain – can anticipate the payment increase during the 2026/27 financial year, nearly half a million people over State Pension age will not be eligible for the increase.
It’s estimated that 453,000 pensioners are living in a country that does not have a reciprocal agreement with the UK Government, which means they won’t receive the annual State Pension uprating. This is despite having paid the necessary amount of National Insurance Contributions to receive the state Pension, reports the Daily Record.
Despite tireless efforts by the ‘End Frozen Pensions’ campaign – including an online petition backed by thousands, a Westminster visit from 100 year old Second World War veteran Anne Puckridge, and repeated appeals to the UK Government for a policy overhaul – numerous expats continue to receive substantially reduced State Pensions compared to those living in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Activists had been optimistic that last year’s appointment of former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney as Canadian prime minister might spark discussions with the UK Government regarding this issue, which impacts more than 100,000 expats residing in Canada.
The State Pension remains frozen at the time of emigration for people predominantly settled in Commonwealth nations like Canada and Australia. By contrast, retirees in the USA or EU countries continue to enjoy the same State Pension entitlements as if they’d stayed in the UK.
A significant proportion of affected pensioners (49%) are subsisting on £65 weekly or less, with an estimated 86 per cent of all expats claiming they weren’t informed their State Pension would be frozen. Campaign groups report that some pensioners are scraping by on just £20.00 each week.
John Duguid, who heads up the End Frozen Pensions Campaign, has slammed the Chancellor’s approach, declaring: “The Chancellor (Rachel Reeves) found the words, and the money, to help protect pensioners from inflation at home, while offering nothing to the hundreds of thousands of British pensioners overseas whose incomes are being eroded year after year.”
His fury was palpable as he continued: “Once again, we are left out of sight, out of mind and out of pocket. And the fact that most of the affected countries are members of the Commonwealth adds insult to injury. The Government appears content to grow a chasm between its pensioners residing at home and abroad.”
Mr Duguid branded the situation a scandal, arguing: “This is a gross injustice, made all the more outrageous as the Government’s own figures confirm that fixing this injustice would cost the Chancellor a mere £63m in the first year, a drop in the ocean of the total pension spend.”
Further details about the End Frozen Pensions Campaign are available on their website.
State Pension payments 2026/27
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.
The new payment rates are set out below.
Full New State Pension
- Weekly: £241.30 (from £230.25)
- Four-weekly pay period: £965.20
- Annual amount: £12,547
Full Basic State Pension
- Weekly: £184.90 (from £176.45)
- Four-weekly pay period: £739.60
- Annual amount: £9,614
A full list of the uprating for additional State Pension elements can be found on GOV.UK.
