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State pension rises in April 2019: how much will you get?
From April 2019, the state pension will receive its annual boost, but how much more can retired workers expect to receive?
Some pensioners could receive a pay rise of £221 this year, seeing their weekly payment increased by 2.6%. But it's not the only change to the state pension coming on Saturday.
Here we explain the new state pension rates for the 2019-20 tax year and how much extra you could receive from 6 April.
What is the state pension?
The state pension is a weekly payment from the government that you can receive once you hit state pension age.
In order to qualify for the state pension, you have to make National Insurance contributions. To get the full amount, you need 35 years' worth of contributions.
If you reached state pension age before April 2016, you'll be entitled to the basic state pension plus any additional state pension you may have built up.
Those who hit state pension age after April 2016 will receive the new single-tier state pension.
Both the basic and single-tier state pension are protected by something called the 'triple-lock' guarantee.
This essentially means that they rise each year by the greater of the following:
- CPI inflation (announced in the September of the previous year)
- Annual earnings growth
- 2.5%
From 6 April 2019, the state pension will increase by average earnings growth, which came in highest at 2.6%.
- Find out more: what is the state pension?
New single-tier state pension rates 2019-20
If you're entitled to the full new single-tier state pension your weekly payments will increase by £4.25 taking them from £164.35 to £168.60.
This means that you'll get an extra £221 in state pension by the end of the 2019-20 tax year - bringing your annual state pension income to £8,767.20.
| 2018-19 | 2019-20 | Change | |
| New state pension (weekly) | £164.35 | £168.60 | +£4.25 a week |
| New state pension (annual) | £8,546.20 | £8,767.20 | + £221 a year |
- Find out more: how much state pension will I get?
Basic state pension rates 2019-20
If you receive the basic state pension, you'll get a weekly boost of £3.25; increasing your payments from £125.95 to £129.20.
Over the 2019-20 tax year, basic state pensioners will receive an extra £169 a year, making the overall annual income £6,718.40.
The table below shows how basic state pension rates have changed.
| 2018-19 | 2019-20 | Change | |
| Basic state pension (weekly) | £125.95 | £129.20 | +£3.25 a week |
| Basic state pension (annual) | £6,549.40 | £6,718.40 | +£169 a year |
- Find out more: how do I qualify for the state pension?
Additional state pension rates 2019-20
If you qualified for the state pension before April 2016 your pension will be made up for two parts: the basic pension and the additional state pension (sometimes called the second state pension).
The additional state pension isn't protected by the triple-lock guarantee and only increased by the rate of CPI inflation (announced in the previous year's September). This means that from 6 April 2019, the additional state pension will increase by 2.4%.
The maximum additional state pension you can earn is capped. In the 2019-20 tax year, this cap rises from £172.28 to £176.41 per week.
- Find out more: state second pension and Serps explained
Pension credit 2019-20
Pension credit is a means-tested benefit awarded to retired workers based on their earnings. From April 2019 both pension credit payments will increase by 2.4%, the CPI rate of inflation.
It's made up of two parts:
Guarantee credit
This tops up your weekly income so it reaches a minimum sum set by the government.
This will rise from £163 a week to £167.25 per week for a single person and from £248.80 to £255.25 for a couple.
Savings credit
This is an extra payment from the government to reward you for saving towards your retirement.
The maximum you can get as a single person rises to £13.72 a week (from £13.40), while the maximum for a couple goes up to £15.35 a week from £14.99.
Pension lifetime allowance 2019-20
The pension lifetime allowance is the maximum amount that you can put into your retirement savings, tax-free.
Similarly to the additional state pension, your lifetime allowance increases by the rate of last September's CPI inflation which is 2.4%.
From April 2019, the pensions lifetime allowance increase will from £1,030,000 to £1,055,000.
This works out to an extra £24,800.
The table below shows how the pensions lifetime allowance has changed since 2006.
Pensions lifetime allowance
- Find out more: pensions lifetime allowance - all you need to know
When can I claim the state pension?
Following a month-long process which started in November last year, the state pension age was increased 65 for both men and women on 6 December 2018.
The state pension age will now rise again to 66 for both men and women by October 2020 and 67 by October 2029.
A further increase to 68 is due to take place between 2037 and 2039.
- Find out more: state pension age calculator
How to check your state pension
Workers can get a state pension forecast using the government's 'check your state pension' website or through your personal tax account.
Getting in touch with the Future Pension Centre at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can also provide further clarification about your state pension.
Check out our pension guides for more information about the state pension and planning for retirement.
