The UK State Pension is on track to rise by 3.9% in April 2027, taking the full new State Pension from £241.30 to about £250.70 a week (around £13,037 a year). The catch: that's above the frozen £12,570 personal allowance, so for the first time a full new State Pension on its own would exceed the tax-free amount. The rise is confirmed at the Autumn Budget on 28 October. Here's what it means and who needs to act.
How the 3.9% was worked out
Under the triple lock, the State Pension rises each April by the highest of three numbers:
| Measure | 2026 figure | Used? |
|---|---|---|
| Average earnings growth (May–July 2026) | 3.9% | Yes, highest |
| CPI inflation (September 2026) | 3.5% | No |
| Minimum | 2.5% | No |
The earnings figure of 3.9% was published by the ONS on 15 September 2026 (summarised here), and the ONS reported September CPI at 3.5%. The government confirms the uprating at the Budget; the IFS explains the triple lock in detail.
What you'd get from April 2027
| Full new State Pension | Per week | Per year (52 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 (now) | £241.30 | £12,548 |
| 2027/28 (expected, +3.9%) | ≈£250.70 | ≈£13,037 |
| Difference | +≈£9.40 | +≈£489 |
Our calculation from the published weekly rate; the official figure is confirmed at the Budget. If you're on the old (basic) State Pension, or receive less than the full amount, your rise is 3.9% of what you get.
The tax catch, explained
The personal allowance has been frozen at £12,570 since 2022 and is frozen until April 2031, according to PwC. At about £13,037 a year, a full new State Pension would be roughly £467 over that allowance. At the 20% basic rate, that's about £93 a year of tax if the State Pension were your only income, unless the government changes the rules at the Budget.
Who it really affects today: anyone with a full new State Pension plus any other taxable income (a workplace or personal pension, part-time pay, rental income) is already paying tax on the extra income. The change matters most for people with the State Pension and very little else, because they've never had to think about tax before.
Does this affect me? Quick decision table
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| get the full new State Pension and other income | check your tax code each April; your other income is likely already taxed through it. |
| get the full new State Pension and nothing else | watch for Budget announcements on 28 October about how HMRC will handle this. |
| are on the old basic State Pension | your rise is 3.9% of a smaller amount, so it's less likely to cross the allowance by itself. |
| are approaching State Pension age | get a State Pension forecast on GOV.UK and check for gaps in your National Insurance record. |
| help a parent with money | check their letters from HMRC and DWP in spring; a tax code change is easy to miss. |
The women's angle: check your record
Many women have gaps in their National Insurance record from years of caring, part-time work or time out of paid work, which can mean less than the full amount. A free forecast on GOV.UK shows your record and whether filling gaps could help; MoneyHelper offers free guidance before you pay for any years. If you combine caring with paid work now, see how the Carer's Allowance cliff edge is changing, with the weekly maths.
If you were born on or after 6 April 1960, check when your payments actually start: our guide to the State Pension age rise to 67, with exact dates and a comparison with five other countries shows how many months you may need to bridge.
Retirement income is easier to trust when you can see it all on one page. The Matriarch Money Dashboard (Google Sheets & Excel) keeps your pensions, bills and savings goals in one place. If thinking about retirement makes your chest tighten, start with the free 7-Day Money Anxiety Reset journal.
Related: Autumn Budget 2026 checklist, how midlife can change the way we work and spend and talking to aging parents about money.
Quick questions
How much will the State Pension go up in April 2027? 3.9%, based on earnings growth, which takes the full new State Pension to about £250.70 a week. The government confirms the figure at the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026.
Will I pay tax on my State Pension? The State Pension is taxable income. From April 2027 the full new State Pension is expected to exceed the frozen £12,570 personal allowance, so tax could apply if it's your only income, depending on how the government handles it.
When does the increase start? From the first payment after the start of the new tax year in April 2027.
Sources
- Kael Tripton, State pension 2027 rise: triple lock forecast (ONS earnings data, reviewed 12 Oct 2026)
- ONS, Consumer price inflation, UK: September 2026
- Institute for Fiscal Studies, What do you need to know about the triple lock?
- PwC, Autumn Budget 2026 preview (personal allowance freeze)
- AJ Bell, State pension set for 3.9% hike to exceed personal allowance for first time
- GOV.UK, Check your State Pension forecast
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