Older state pensioners are being handed payments of up to £739.60 from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in June following a triple lock change that kicked in this April.

The State Pension increases at the start of every new tax year on April 6 and the amount that rates go up is determined by the highest out of three factors, known as the ‘triple lock’. These are the consumer price index (CPI) measure of inflation (measured for September the year before), average wage growth between May and July of the previous year, or 2.5%. This year, both the basic and new State Pension have been uprated by 4.8%, in line with average wage growth, as this was the highest out of the three factors.

The triple lock change means higher payments at the new rates for state pensioners every month in the current tax year until next April, and for older pensioners on the basic State Pension, this can amount to a £439.40 increase across the full year.

The full basic State Pension is now worth £184.90 a week and as it is paid by the DWP every four weeks, it can total up to £739.60 over a standard four-week payment period.

Men born before April 6, 1951, and women born before April 6, 1953, receive the basic State Pension and will now benefit from a 4.8% increase to payments every month in the new tax year.

Over a full year, the new rates amount to a maximum of £9,614.80 in pension payments, up from £9,175.40 previously, giving older pensiones who are eligible for the full rate an extra £439.40 annually.

Of course, you need to have a certain number of qualifying years of National Insurance to get this full amount, which for a man is usually 30 qualifying years if you were born between 1945 and 1951, or 44 qualifying years if you were born before 1945.

For women, you’ll need 30 qualifying years if you were born between 1950 and 1953, or 39 qualifying years if you were born before 1950.

If you have less than the full number of qualifying National Insurance years then your basic State Pension will be less than £184.90 per week in the 2026/27 tax year.

Confirming the 4.8% increase to the State Pension earlier this year, the DWP said: “Over 12 million pensioners will see their State Pension rise by up to £575 from 6 April, as both the basic and new State Pensions increase by 4.8% under the Triple Lock guarantee.

“The Government has already delivered above-inflation increases worth up to £395 in real terms over this Parliament. By its end, pensioners’ annual incomes are expected to rise by up to £2,100 – boosting financial security for millions.”

The State Pension is typically paid every four weeks and when you first claim it, you choose the date when you want to receive your payment.

Pensioners can determine their State Pension payment day in June by looking for the two-digit code at the end of their National Insurance number, as this specifies the date on which payments are normally issued. This is how National Insurance numbers correspond to payment days:

• 00 to 19 – paid on Monday
• 20 to 39 – paid on Tuesday
• 40 to 59 – paid on Wednesday
• 60 to 79 – paid on Thursday
• 80 to 99 – paid on Friday

The DWP explains: “You’ll be asked when you want to start getting your State Pension when you claim. Your first payment will be no later than 5 weeks after the date you choose. You’ll get a full payment every 4 weeks after that.

“You might get part of a payment before your first full payment. The letter confirming your State Pension payment will tell you what to expect.

“The day your pension is paid depends on your National Insurance number. You might be paid earlier if your normal payment day is a bank holiday.”