The UK State Pension has risen to £230.25 per week for those receiving the full new State Pension. This increase is part of the government’s triple lock policy, which ensures pensions keep pace with the cost of living. To qualify for the full new State Pension, you need at least 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits.
If you are between 10 and 34 years old, you will receive a proportionally smaller amount. In 2025, the deciding factor for the increase was average earnings growth. As a result, pensioners now receive more money each week to help maintain their purchasing power.
Depending on when you reached pension age and your National Insurance record, your pension will differ. If you receive the full new State Pension, you will get approximately £998.41 per month. If you receive the basic State Pension (pre-2016), you will get approximately £9,175.40 annually.
Pension Credit is a benefit that tops up your income if it’s below a certain threshold. As of 2025, single pensioners have a guaranteed minimum income of £227.10 per week, while couples have a guaranteed minimum combined income of £346.60 per week. To maximize your State Pension, you can check and top up your NI contributions, claim Pension Credit if eligible, consider deferring your State Pension, explore private and workplace pensions, and stay up to date with policy changes.
The next official review of the State Pension is expected in November 2025, with any changes implemented in April 2026.
State pension increases and options
You can continue working while receiving the State Pension, and there is no limit on earnings.
State pensioners are being urged to consider switching their payments from four-weekly to weekly to make budgeting easier. To make this change, pensioners can contact the DWP change of circumstances (Pension Service) by calling 0800 731 0469 or writing to The Pension Service, Post Handling Site A, Wolverhampton WV98 1AF. When claiming the State Pension, individuals can request weekly payments by including “Please pay my pension weekly” in the information box on the claim form.
The decision between weekly and four-weekly payments depends on individual budgeting preferences and financial circumstances. Some prefer four-weekly payments because most bills are paid monthly, while others favor weekly payments for better cash flow management. I received a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions titled “Now that you are approaching 80.” It contained news that I am entitled to a higher amount of State Pension, but the increase was only 25p per week, or £1 a month.
The letter also contained spelling mistakes in my address, which their computer system hadn’t caught. I called the DWP to correct it, but after over an hour on hold, I wondered if the department is struggling with workload issues. Blackbirds are facing trouble due to a new virus, according to the British Trust for Ornithology.
They have asked us to record sightings of these birds in our gardens. One inventive blackbird in my garden has found a clever way to get food by pecking at a fat and seed-filled coconut in mid-air, causing some to fall to the ground. I had to visit a clinic in Telford for a check-up after visiting A&E recently.
Despite initial concerns, everything went smoothly, with easy parking and a clean, efficient clinic that featured new color codes to guide us through the facility.
Image Credits: Photo by Matthew Kwong on Unsplash
