Every year in April, the amount paid to state pension recipients increases.

The guaranteed rise is thanks to a legally-binding mechanism called the state pension triple lock.

The triple lock means the state pension will rise each year by whatever is highest out of inflation, average wages, or 2.5 per cent.

Regardless of whether someone is on the New State Pension – which came into effect for anyone retiring from 2016 onwards – or the older Basic State Pension, the mechanism applies.

How much will state pension payments increase by?

This year, average wage growth was the component of the triple lock which represented the highest amount. Average earnings from May-July in 2025, which is the time period used for the triple lock, rose by 4.8 per cent.

Therefore, the full rate of the New State Pension will rise from £230.25 per week to £241.30 a week (an increase from £11,973 to £12,547.60 a year).

The Basic State Pension will rise from £176.45 per week to £184.90 (an annual increase from £9,175.40 to £9,614.80)

Does everyone on the state pension benefit from the triple lock?

State pension payments do not necessarily increase for retirees if they live abroad and instead rely on where they live.

Those living in the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, Gibraltar, or countries with a social security agreement with the UK such as the US, Barbados, or Turkey, all benefit from the rise.

However, those living in countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa see their payments frozen at the level they were when they moved overseas.

Their payments will be boosted back up to the full rate if they return to live in the UK.