The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is providing state pensioners with an additional £439 in the form of increased Additional State Pension payments. This boost applies to those who retired before April 2016.
Uprating scheme details
Under the DWP uprating scheme, the Additional Pension—which includes the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) and the Second State Pension—has been raised. From April 6, the maximum possible Additional Pension payment has increased from £222.10 per week to £230.54 per week, equating to an extra £439 over the course of a year.
Eligibility explained
Which? explains that before 2002, contributions to the additional state pension (then known as SERPS) were only possible for employed individuals. However, under the state second pension scheme from 2002 to 2016, contributions could be made through National Insurance if you were an employee earning at least £113 a week, caring for a child under 12 and claiming child benefit, claiming carer's credit, or claiming certain disability-related benefits.
The amount of additional state pension depends on factors such as years of National Insurance contributions, earnings, and whether you were contracted out of the scheme. The maximum additional state pension for 2026-27 is £230.54 per week, excluding state pension top-up.
Who receives the payment?
If you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, and are claiming the basic State Pension, you will automatically receive any Additional State Pension you are eligible for—no separate claim is needed. However, if you reached State Pension age on or after April 6, 2016, you will receive the new State Pension instead and will not get the Additional State Pension.
The DWP notes that you may not receive Additional State Pension for periods when you were contracted out of it. The Additional State Pension comprises three schemes: SERPS, the second state pension, and the state pension top-up. You may have contributed to more than one.
