Overview
- From 6 April 2026, the full new State Pension rises to £241.30 a week (about £575 a year more) and the full basic pension increases to £184.90 a week (roughly £419 a year more).
- Pension Credit’s standard minimum guarantee increases to £238 a week for single claimants and £363.25 for couples, with eligibility unlocking additional help such as housing and council tax support.
- Universal Credit standard allowances receive above‑inflation increases, including £424.90 a month for single people aged 25+ and £666.97 for couples 25+, alongside removal of the two‑child cap and a new £217.26 monthly health element for most new claimants, with existing severe cases protected at around £429.80.
- Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales move to automatic payments of up to £300 with HMRC recovery for incomes above £35,000, while first‑time recipients and those who deferred their State Pension must claim by 31 March 2026.
- Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledges that people whose only income is the new State Pension will not pay income tax during this parliament, as DWP data show PIP claims hit a record 3.93 million and a review reports in the autumn.