What was the triple lock increase for 2026?

The State Pension increased by 4.8% in April 2026 driven by average earnings growth of 4.8% recorded between May and July 2025.

How much is the State Pension 2026?

The full new State Pension is £241.30 per week (£12,547.60 per year) for 2026/27.

Money Guides ⏱ 2 min read 📅 Updated Apr 2026

What Is the Triple Lock? UK State Pension Guarantee Explained 2026

Q: What is the triple lock UK?

The triple lock guarantees the State Pension increases each April by whichever is highest of inflation (CPI) average earnings growth or 2.5%.

Chandraketu Tripathi

Finance Editor, Kaeltripton

Published 3 Apr 2026

Last reviewed 20 Apr 2026

✓ Fact-checked

What Is the Triple Lock? UK State Pension Guarantee Explained 2026

State Pension Guide — April 2026

The triple lock guarantees the UK State Pension rises each April by whichever is highest of: CPI inflation, average earnings growth, or 2.5%. It was introduced in 2010 and has been in place since.

Triple Lock Result 2026/27

Measure	2026 Figure	Winner?
CPI Inflation September 2025	3.8%	No
Average Earnings Growth May-July 2025	4.8%	YES — highest
Minimum Guarantee	2.5%	No

State Pension Amounts 2026/27

Type	2025/26	2026/27	Increase
Full new State Pension	£241.30/week	£241.30/week	+£11.05/week
Annual equivalent	£11,973/year	£12,547.60/year	+£574.60/year
Basic State Pension old	£184.90/week	£184.90/week	+£8.45/week

The Pensioner Tax Trap

The full new State Pension is now £12,547.60 per year. The income tax personal allowance is frozen at £12,570 until at least 2031. The gap is just £22.40 per year. At the current rate of triple lock increases pensioners could begin paying income tax within one to two years.

Warning: If you receive the full State Pension plus any other income — private pension savings interest rental income — check whether you owe income tax at gov.uk/personal-tax-account.

Political Debate

OBR estimates triple lock costs £12 billion more per year than earnings-linked rises alone
Government has committed to maintaining it for this parliament
Critics argue it is unaffordable as the population ages
Supporters say it protects pensioners from poverty

Bottom line: The triple lock delivered 4.8% in April 2026 — taking State Pension to £241.30 per week. The gap to the income tax threshold is now just £22. If you have any other income alongside your State Pension check your tax position now.

By Chandraketu Tripathi · Updated April 2026 · kaeltripton.com

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Chandraketu Tripathi

Finance Editor · Kaeltripton.com

Chandraketu (CK) Tripathi, founder and lead editor of Kael Tripton. 22 years in finance and marketing across 23 markets. Writes on UK personal finance, tax, mortgages, insurance, energy, and investing. Sources: HMRC, FCA, Ofgem, BoE, ONS.