Under the triple lock policy, pension payments rise annually to match whatever is highest out of inflation, wage growth or 2.5%
Pensioners are in line for a payment boost(Image: Westend61)
Millions of pensioners can expect to receive £1,900 more from the Government over the next few years. Ministers say the new State Pension, claimed by those who retired after April 2016, is set to climb by around this amount over the next three years.
A £575 increase has already been confirmed from April 2026. And additional annual payment rises are guaranteed under the triple lock policy.
This ensures pension payments rise each month to match whatever is highest out of inflation, wage growth and 2.5%. Government officials believe this will result in payments rising by up to £1,900 by the time of the next general election in 2029. This comes as ChronicleLive reported how the DWP can pay £441 a month to pensioners with arthritis, back or joint pain.
The State Pension rises come amid growing discussion over the triple lock and whether it will eventually be scrapped. Labour has confirmed its commitment to the policy for the entirety of the current Parliament, reports BirminghamLive.
Baroness Sherlock, DWP minister, said last year: “Our commitment to the triple lock for the entirety of this Parliament means that spending on people’s State Pensions is forecast to rise by over £31 billion. As a result, the yearly State Pension will have increased by up to £1,900 by the end of the Parliament.
“Protecting the triple lock, even in the current economic climate, shows our commitment to pensioners.” The Conservative leadership has been less clear about the future of the triple lock, with a number of leading economists claiming it will become too expensive.
Who is eligible for the new State Pension
You’ll be able to claim the new State Pension when you reach State Pension age if you’re:
- a man born on or after 6 April 1951
- a woman born on or after 6 April 1953
If you were born before, these rules do not apply. Instead, you’ll get the basic State Pension. You’ll need 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any new State Pension.
A qualifying year is one in which you were:
- working and made National Insurance contributions
- getting National Insurance credits for example if you were unemployed, ill or a parent or carer
- paying voluntary National Insurance contributions
You might also qualify if you’ve lived or worked abroad or paid reduced rate National Insurance for married women. The qualifying years on your National Insurance record affect how much State Pension you get. You can check your State Pension forecast to see what you might get when you reach State Pension age.