Research · 2026-05-20
UK New State Pension Rate History Since 2016 and Triple-Lock Uprating
Every New State Pension weekly rate since its April 2016 introduction, alongside the basic State Pension rate, effective date and applicable uprating measure, from DWP records.
Research period:
The New State Pension was introduced in April 2016 and generally rises each April under the triple lock - the higher of CPI inflation, average earnings growth, or 2.5%. The weekly rates and effective dates on this page come from DWP records. PlainPension computes each clearly labelled 52-week annualised equivalent as the weekly rate multiplied by 52; it is not an individual annual entitlement. This page shows every tax year from the New State Pension's introduction through the current data vintage. The database currently covers 9 tax years from 2017/18 through 2026/27, with an average annual triple-lock uprate of 4.67%.
The current full New State Pension is £241.30 per week (52-week annualised equivalent: £12,547.60), effective from for the 2026/27 tax year. The uprating from the previous year was 4.8% under the triple-lock formula.
Follow confirmed weekly rate records in the State Pension rates RSS feed. It publishes source-record updates only, not a forecast of any individual entitlement.
The earnings element of the triple lock was temporarily suspended for 2022/23. That year's 3.1% CPI increase is not labelled or plotted below as a triple-lock uprate.
Rate history at a glance
Read the confirmed annual level first, then compare that level with the pace of change in the matrix below.
Full New State Pension, 52-week annualised equivalent (2017/18 → 2026/27)
The second read
A higher weekly rate does not mean a larger annual rise
The current full rate is the series high at £241.30 a week, but its 4.8% movement is below the 10.1% peak in 2023/24. Each point pairs one confirmed DWP weekly rate with the change from the preceding record.
Lower rate · faster change
- 2020/21 £175.20 · 3.9%
Higher rate · faster change
- 2023/24 £203.85 · 10.1%
- 2024/25 £221.20 · 8.5%
- 2025/26 £230.25 · 4.1%
- 2026/27 · current £241.30 · 4.8%
Lower rate · slower change
- 2017/18 £159.55 · 2.5%
- 2018/19 £164.35 · 3.0%
- 2019/20 £168.60 · 2.6%
- 2021/22 £179.60 · 2.5%
Higher rate · slower change
- 2022/23 £185.15 · 3.1%
Quadrants split at the series medians: £182.38 a week and 3.5% movement. The 2022/23 point is a rate change, not a triple-lock uprate.
Read every plotted value
| Tax year | Full weekly rate | Change from preceding rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2017/18 | £159.55 | 2.5% |
| 2018/19 | £164.35 | 3.0% |
| 2019/20 | £168.60 | 2.6% |
| 2020/21 | £175.20 | 3.9% |
| 2021/22 | £179.60 | 2.5% |
| 2022/23 | £185.15 | 3.1% |
| 2023/24 | £203.85 | 10.1% |
| 2024/25 | £221.20 | 8.5% |
| 2025/26 | £230.25 | 4.1% |
| 2026/27 · current | £241.30 | 4.8% |
Source: DWP New State Pension rate history · Data reviewed 2026-07-28 · Percentage movements calculated from adjacent confirmed weekly rates and rounded to one decimal place.
Full rate table
| Tax year | Full New State Pension (weekly) | 52-week annualised equivalent | Basic State Pension (weekly) | Triple-lock uprate | Effective from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016/17 | £155.65 | £8,093.80 | £119.30 | - | 2016-04-06 |
| 2017/18 | £159.55 | £8,296.60 | £122.30 | 2.5% | 2017-04-10 |
| 2018/19 | £164.35 | £8,546.20 | £125.95 | 3% | 2018-04-09 |
| 2019/20 | £168.60 | £8,767.20 | £129.20 | 2.6% | 2019-04-08 |
| 2020/21 | £175.20 | £9,110.40 | £134.25 | 3.9% | 2020-04-06 |
| 2021/22 | £179.60 | £9,339.20 | £137.60 | 2.5% | 2021-04-12 |
| 2022/23 | £185.15 | £9,627.80 | £141.85 | - | 2022-04-11 |
| 2023/24 | £203.85 | £10,600.20 | £156.20 | 10.1% | 2023-04-10 |
| 2024/25 | £221.20 | £11,502.40 | £169.50 | 8.5% | 2024-04-08 |
| 2025/26 | £230.25 | £11,973.00 | £176.45 | 4.1% | 2025-04-07 |
| 2026/27 | £241.30 | £12,547.60 | £184.90 | 4.8% | 2026-04-06 |
Triple-lock annual uprate (%) by tax year
How the triple-lock works
The triple lock sets the annual increase in the State Pension at the higher of three measures: CPI inflation in the September preceding the new tax year, average earnings growth in the May–July period, or a statutory floor of 2.5%. The figure chosen each year is the one of the three that delivers the largest uprate to pensioner incomes. In low-inflation low-wage-growth years the 2.5% floor applies; in inflationary years, 2023/24's 10.1% uprate was driven by CPI, while 2026/27's 4.8% uprate was driven by earnings growth.
Sources
- DWP, UK State Pension rate-uprating order
- DWP, Historic State Pension rates
- Office for National Statistics, Consumer Price Index time series
- Office for National Statistics, Average Weekly Earnings time series
For our methodology and refresh schedule see the methodology page. For a live comparison of the latest two confirmed DWP rate records, see the State Pension rate-change report. For an explainer of how qualifying years and the State Pension calculation interact see UK State Pension Qualification Rules.
Limitations
The weekly figures above are DWP rates; the annualised equivalents are those weekly figures multiplied by 52 and are not annual entitlement figures. Most uprates shown were set under the triple lock, except for the explicitly marked 2022/23 suspension. The amount any individual actually receives depends on their qualifying-year history (35 years for the full rate; 10 minimum for any rate at all). Pre-April-2016 contracted-out NI contributions affect the “starting amount” calculation under the new State Pension regime and can leave individuals with a State Pension below the headline rate even after 35+ qualifying years. The DWP State Pension Forecast service at gov.uk/check-state-pension shows your individual entitlement.
PlainPension's calculators and guides reflect current UK pension rules, no figure is typed in without checking the source. This page reflects current UK pension rules and HMRC/GOV.UK guidance, checked before publishing. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these figures, our data changelog of past corrections, or report an error.
Put this history to work
The headline rate is useful context, but an individual entitlement still depends on the NI record behind it:
- Check the official forecast and NI record before making any voluntary contribution. Check the official forecast
- See the current Class 3 cost, annual uplift and simple break-even from the same official-rate inputs. Open the live break-even
- Understand how qualifying years and contracted-out history affect the headline rate. Read the qualification guide
This rate history is general information, not a forecast of an individual award. The DWP forecast is the authoritative record for your entitlement.