State pensioners will soon see their earnings rise thanks to the triple lock, which ensures state pensions keep pace with economic changes and typically increase by more than inflation. State Pension increases every April by the highest of three measures – average earnings growth, CPI inflation, or a minimum of 2.5%, and as the average wage increase in 2025 was 4.8%, the State Pension will also increase by the same measure.

The triple lock affects anyone living in the UK who gets a state pension, and you do not have to do anything to benefit from it as it is automatically calculated and applied on or just after April 6.

The initiative introduced in 2020 was designed to ensure that rising costs would not make pensioners worse off. There are two levels of state pensions: the new and the basic.

Men born on or after April 6, 1951, and women born on or after April 6, 1953, can claim the new state pension. Those born before the dates will get the basic state pension.

This year’s increase will see the maximum weekly payout rise from £230.25 to £41.30. In order to qualify for this pension level, you will need 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record.

The qualifying years include one spent working and making National Insurance contributions, getting National Insurance credits, or paying voluntary National Insurance contributions.

For those on the basic State Pension plan, the full amount will increase to £184.90 from £176.45.

To get the full amount, men need 30 qualifying years if they were born between 1945 and 1951 and 44 qualifying years if they were born before 1945, while women require 30 qualifying years if they were born between 1950 and 1953 and 39 qualifying years if they were born before 1950.

If you are eligible for your State Pension but have yet to claim, you can do so by visiting GOV.UK, where you can also use the State Pension forecast to find out how much you can get, when you can get it, and any possible increases available.