The full new State Pension will rise 3.9% to £250.70 a week from April 2027, an extra £9.40 a week or £488.80 a year. Which? says the Budget documents confirmed the new State Pension figure. The rise comes from the triple lock: earnings growth of 3.9% beat September’s 3.5% inflation and the 2.5% floor, so earnings set the increase.
This is general information, not personal financial advice, and we are not licensed financial advisers. Check GOV.UK for your own State Pension forecast.
New State Pension rates from April 2027
| Type | 2026/27 a week | 2027/28 a week | Rise a week | Rise a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full new State Pension | £241.30 | £250.70 | £9.40 | £488.80 |
| Full basic State Pension (projected) | £184.90 | £192.10 | £7.20 | £374.40 |
In yearly terms, Which? puts the full new State Pension at £12,547.60 now and £13,036.40 from April 2027. Only the new State Pension figures are confirmed in the Budget documents so far; the basic State Pension numbers are projections until the Department for Work and Pensions confirms the final rates.
MoneySavingExpert explains the split: you are on the new State Pension if you reached State Pension age after April 2016, which covers around 4.7 million people (36% of State Pensioners). The other 8.4 million (64%) receive the basic State Pension.
How the triple lock produced 3.9%
Each year the triple lock raises the State Pension by the highest of three measures. This year earnings growth won.
| Triple lock measure | 2027 figure | Used |
|---|---|---|
| Average earnings growth (May to July 2026) | 3.9% | Yes, the highest |
| CPI inflation (September 2026) | 3.5% | No |
| Minimum guarantee | 2.5% | No |
Additional State Pension and protected payments normally rise with CPI instead, which is 3.5% this year, according to Pension Bible. The government has not yet published Pension Credit rates for 2027/28.
Will you pay tax on the higher State Pension?
The personal allowance is £12,570, and the State Pension counts as taxable income. At £13,036.40 a year, the full new State Pension goes above the allowance for the first time, Which? points out. Lane Clark and Peacock calculated that someone wholly dependent on it could face 20% tax on the excess, about £91.40.
More in News
The Budget answered that problem. As Which? reports, people who receive only the State Pension and have no other income will not pay tax on it. A new Pension Tax Allowance, matched to the full State Pension level, runs from 6 April 2027 to 5 April 2030, rises with the State Pension each year and will be reviewed in 2030. Our Autumn Budget 2026 guide covers the other changes announced on 28 October.
What is changing to the triple lock in 2030
Which? reports that the Chancellor plans to change the triple lock from April 2030, removing the wage-growth guarantee so pensions would rise by either inflation or 2.5%. The savings would help fund a proposed National Care Service, expected to launch in 2029. The current triple lock stays for this Parliament, in line with the 2024 manifesto pledge, and a general election is expected before 2030.
Pension Bible quotes the Budget saying the government will “adjust the Triple Lock from the next Parliament”. That would need legislation and does not change the April 2027 rise.
What you need to do
- Nothing to claim: the increase is applied automatically, and the first payment that includes it depends on your payment day.
- Check your forecast: use the GOV.UK State Pension forecast to see what you are on track to receive.
- Plan the winter: bills matter as much as the weekly rate. Our energy price cap January 2027 guide explains the 25 November announcement, and our guide to keeping your home warm has practical savings.
- Look at safe savings: if you hold prize-based savings, see our Premium Bonds guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much will the new State Pension be from April 2027?
£250.70 a week for the full new State Pension, which is £13,036.40 a year, up £9.40 a week from £241.30.
Will the basic State Pension rise by the same percentage?
Yes, by 3.9%, which Which? projects at £192.10 a week from £184.90. The final basic rate is confirmed by the DWP.
Will I pay tax on my State Pension?
It is taxable income. The Budget confirmed that people with only the State Pension will not pay tax on it, thanks to a Pension Tax Allowance running from 6 April 2027 to 5 April 2030.
Do I have to apply for the increase?
No. Pension Bible notes that the rise is applied automatically.
Is the triple lock ending?
Not for this Parliament. Which? reports a change is planned from April 2030 that removes the wage-growth guarantee, and it would need legislation first.
Sources: Which?, MoneySavingExpert, Money to the Masses, Pension Bible and the Office for National Statistics.
