From April 6, state pensioners saw their maximum possible Additional Pension (AP) payments rise from £222.10 per week to £230.54 per week, an increase of £646.88 per year. This boost, combined with the basic state pension rising to £184 per week from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), means those on the full rate could receive £415 weekly payments.
Who Qualifies for Additional Pension?
The Additional State Pension is an extra amount of money available on top of the basic State Pension for men born before 6 April 1951 or women born before 6 April 1953. Individuals born on or after these dates receive the new State Pension and do not qualify for the Additional State Pension, though they may be able to inherit it from a partner.
How the Additional State Pension Works
According to Which?, before 2002, contributions to the additional state pension (then known as Serps) were only possible for employed individuals. Under the state second pension scheme, which ran from 2002 to 2016, contributions could be made through National Insurance (NI) if you were an employee earning at least £113 a week, caring for one or more children under 12 and claiming child benefit, claiming carer's credit, or claiming certain disability-related benefits.
Amount Depends on Earnings and Contributions
There is no fixed amount for the additional state pension. The amount received depends on how many years you paid NI, how much you earned, and whether you contracted out of the scheme. The maximum additional state pension available in 2026-27 is £230.54 a week, not including state pension top-up.
Automatic Payment for Eligible Pensioners
The Additional State Pension is paid automatically if you are eligible, unless you have contracted out of it. It is paid alongside your basic State Pension, providing a combined weekly income of up to £415 for those receiving the maximum amounts.
