The State Pension is set for a record-breaking increase from Easter Monday, April 10, after the Government announced a 10.1% rise in both Basic and New State Pension payments in line with inflation.
The changes will see those on the full New State Pension receive £815.40 a month, while pensioners on the older Basic State Pension will now receive £624.80 every four weeks. However, the amount you'll get depends on your National Insurance contributions - you need 35 qualifying years to get the maximum amount, and 10 years to get the lowest threshold amount for the New State Pension, BirminghamLive reports.
The Government previously issued a deadline of April 5 for anyone wishing to plug gaps in their National Insurance contributions to top up their pension payments, but DWP announced that it will consider payments made after this cut-off on a case-by-case basis after being overwhelmed with demand from workers. Before April 5 people were able to plug any gaps in their NI record dating back to 2006, but following this deadline the Government confirmed that you will only be able to fill spaces dating back six years.
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You can check your state pension summary on Gov.uk - just fill in your details and it will tell you whether your pension is forecast to be at the full state pension level. You can also check your national insurance record on Gov.uk. You may be able to get missing years back without paying for them, if for example if you were a carer, you had childcare responsibilities, or an illness which prevented you working for a time.
How much will you get?
Here's how much you will get on a weekly basis from Easter Monday with the new 10.1% increase:
New State Pension
- Full rate - increasing from £185.15 to £203.85
Basic State Pension
- Category A or B basic pension - increasing from £141.85 to £156.20
- Category B (lower) basic pension (spouse or civil partner's insurance) - increasing from £85 to £93.60
- Category C or D (non-contributory) - increasing from £85 to £93.60
Additional pension
- Maximum additional pension (own + inherited) - increasing from £185.90 to £204.68
Widow's Pension
- Widow's pension standard rate - increasing from £126.35 to £139.10
Pension Credit
Standard minimum guarantee:
- Single - increasing from £182.60 to £201.05
- Couple - increasing from £278.70 to £306.85
Additional amount for severe disability:
- Single - increasing from £69.40 to £76.40
- Couple (one qualifies) - increasing from £69.40 to £76.40
- Couple (both qualify) - increasing from £138.80 to £152.80
Additional amount for carers:
- Increasing from £38.85 to £42.75
Additional Savings Credit amount if you have savings:
- Threshold single - increasing from £158.47 to £174.49
- Threshold couple - increasing from £251.70 to £277.12
- Maximum single - increasing from £14.48 to £15.94
- Maximum couple - increasing from £16.20 to £17.84
Additional amount if you're responsible for children or young people:
- First child born before April 6 2017 - increasing from £66.85 to £72.31
- Subsequent children - increasing from £56.35 to £61.88
- Disabled child lower rate - increasing from £30.58 to £33.67
- Disabled child higher rate - increasing from £95.48 to £104.86
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