State pension likely to rise by £488 a year in April

Image source, Getty Images By Emer Moreau , Business reporter and Kevin Peachey , Cost of living correspondent Published 15 September 2026, 07:12 BST Updated 7 hours ago The state pension is expected to top £13,000 a year, reigniting the debate about its long-term affordability and generational fairness.

The full, flat-rate state pension is expected to rise by £488 a year in April, based on the latest official earnings figure released on Tuesday.

The so-called triple lock pension policy guarantees that the state pension will increase by either average wage growth, inflation or 2.5% - whichever is highest.

Labour made a manifesto pledge to keep the triple lock until 2029, however economists have warned about the cost of the policy ahead of the Budget although pensioner groups say many people still face poverty in old age.