Overview
- State Pension payments due on Thursday, January 1, 2026, are being paid today, Wednesday, December 31, with some Friday, January 2 dates in Scotland also brought forward, in line with DWP bank‑holiday rules.
- The full new State Pension pays £230.25 a week, issued every four weeks as £921, while the full basic State Pension is roughly £706 per four‑week cycle for those with a full National Insurance record.
- Early disbursement does not accelerate the following payment, so affected pensioners will face a longer wait until their next instalment later in January.
- From April 6, 2026, rates rise by 4.8% under the triple lock, taking the full new State Pension to £241.30 a week and the full basic rate to £184.90, with the Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee increasing to about £238 for singles and £363.25 for couples.
- The State Pension age begins its scheduled rise from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and HMRC will recoup Winter Fuel Payments from higher‑income recipients via tax code changes or Self Assessment.