The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will distribute a payment of £965 this May to state pensioners aged between 66 and 75. This payment corresponds with the new State Pension rate set for 2026/27, which is £241.30 per week for individuals reaching state pension age on or after April 6, 2016.
The new State Pension applies primarily to men born after 1951 and women born after 1953, covering those currently aged between 66 and 75. Eligibility for the full weekly amount typically requires 35 qualifying National Insurance (NI) years, while a minimum of 10 qualifying years grants a partial payment. The pension amount is adjusted annually in line with the triple lock mechanism.
Before the introduction of the new State Pension, workers could accumulate additional State Pension benefits, known as the State Second Pension (S2P) or SERPS, which acted as a top-up to the basic State Pension.
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To receive any new State Pension, claimants must have at least 10 qualifying NI years; fewer than 10 years results in no State Pension entitlement. Payments are made into bank accounts every four weeks, although the frequency can be altered by contacting the DWP at 0800 731 0469.
Payment days depend on the final two digits of the National Insurance number: those ending in 00 to 19 receive payments on Monday, 20 to 39 on Tuesday, 40 to 59 on Wednesday, 60 to 79 on Thursday, and 80 to 99 on Friday.
While the official State Pension forecast on the Government website provides a monthly estimate, actual pension payments occur every four weeks.