Overview
- Payments, which will land in November and December 2026, are set at £100 to £300 and will be sent automatically to eligible state pensioners.
- Eligibility hinges on being born on or before 27 June 1960, living in England or Wales, and meeting the 21–27 September 2026 qualifying-week test.
- HMRC will reclaim the payment from those over the £35,000 income threshold by changing PAYE tax codes or via Self Assessment, with about 1.3 million people being contacted.
- DWP listed five exclusions that block the payment, including living outside England or Wales, being in hospital or prison for the qualifying week, certain immigration conditions, and some long-term care-home residents on means‑tested benefits.
- The state pension rose by 4.8% from April 2026 under the triple lock to £12,547.60 for the full rate and £9,614.80 for the full basic rate, while about 900,000 eligible households still do not claim Pension Credit that unlocks extra help.