MILLIONS of Scots receiving the State Pension will soon see a rise in their payments.
The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed both State Pension and Pension Credit will rise from April 7 – the first Monday after the new tax year begins.
Employee wages grew by 4.1% in the three months to July, while the UK’s rate of inflation was 1.7% in September.
Millions of pensioners who retired after 2016 will get their pensions increased from £11,502 to £11,973 a year – a rise of £471.
However, around nine million older pensioners who retired before April 6, 2016, will be paid under a different scheme called the Basic State Pension.
The full new State Pension rises by £9.05 per week (from £221.20 to £230.25).
Meanwhile, the individual basic State Pension rises by £6.95 per week (from £169.50 to £176.45).
State Pension Payments 2025-26
Full New State Pension
- Weekly payment: £230.25 (from £221.20)
- Four-weekly payment: £921 (from £884.80)
- Annual amount: £11,973 (from £11,502)
Full Basic State Pension
- Weekly payment: £176.45 (from £169.50)
- Four-weekly payment: £705.80 (from £678)
- Annual amount: £9,175 (from £8,814)
In response to rising life expectancy, the age at which you become eligible to receive the State Pension has been going up.
The age is now 66 for both men and women and is set to reach 68 by 2046.
You won’t automatically get the State Pension – you need to claim it once you’re eligible.
You should receive a letter no later than two months before you reach State Pension age, explaining what to do.
You can find out more here.
You can choose to defer getting the state pension – you don’t have to take it as soon as you are eligible when you reach State Pension age.
How does the State Pension work?
AT the moment the current state pension is paid to both men and women from age 66 - but it's due to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046.
The state pension is a recurring payment from the government most Brits start getting when they reach State Pension age.
But not everyone gets the same amount, and you are awarded depending on your National Insurance record.
For most pensioners, it forms only part of their retirement income, as they could have other pots from a workplace pension, earning and savings.
The new state pension is based on people’s National Insurance records.
Workers must have 35 qualifying years of National Insurance to get the maximum amount of the new state pension.
You earn National Insurance qualifying years through work, or by getting credits, for instance when you are looking after children and claiming child benefit.
If you have gaps, you can top up your record by paying in voluntary National Insurance contributions.
To get the old, full basic state pension, you will need 30 years of contributions or credits.
You will need at least 10 years on your NI record to get any state pension.