The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that basic State Pension recipients may be able to boost their weekly income by up to £230.54 through Additional Pension (AP) schemes, including the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) and the Second State Pension. These schemes, however, are no longer open to new claimants.
The maximum weekly Additional Pension payment for the 2026-27 tax year stands at £230.54, an increase from £222.10 in the previous year. This sum is paid on top of the standard basic State Pension, meaning eligible pensioners could receive an extra £922 per month.
Who Qualifies for Additional State Pension?
According to Which?, the consumer body, the Additional State Pension is an extra amount paid on top of the basic State Pension for men born before 6 April 1951 or women born before 6 April 1953. Those born on or after these dates receive the new State Pension instead and do not qualify for the Additional State Pension, though they may still inherit it from a partner.
Eligibility is automatic for those who qualify, unless they contracted out of the scheme. The payment is made alongside the basic State Pension.
How the Additional Pension Amount Is Calculated
Which? explains: “The amount of additional state pension you'll get depends on how many years you paid National Insurance for, how much you earned and whether you contracted out of the scheme.”
The consumer body adds: “The maximum additional state pension you can get in 2026-27 is £230.54 a week (not including state pension top-up).”
The amount also depends on whether the individual topped up their basic State Pension, a voluntary option available only between 12 October 2015 and 5 April 2017.
Impact on Pensioners
For those eligible, the Additional Pension can significantly increase retirement income. With the maximum payment, a basic State Pensioner could see their monthly income rise by nearly £1,000. However, because the schemes are closed to new claimants, only those who built up entitlements during their working years can benefit.
Pensioners unsure of their eligibility are advised to check their National Insurance record and any contracting-out history. The DWP pays the Additional Pension automatically to those who qualify, so no separate application is typically required.
