Older state pensioners who retired before April 2016 can receive an extra £438.88 per year from April 2026, after the Additional Pension (AP) rate increased from 1.7% to 3.8%. The maximum AP payment is now £230.54 per week, up from £222.10 the previous year.
Who can claim Additional Pension
The AP is an extra payment on top of the basic state pension, unless the pensioner was ‘contracted out’ through work. It was previously known as SERPS (State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme) or the State Second Pension.
According to DWP guidance, the additional state pension is available to men born before 6 April 1951 and women born before 6 April 1953. It is paid automatically with the basic state pension for those eligible, unless they contracted out.
How the payment is calculated
There is no fixed amount for the additional state pension. The amount depends on the number of years National Insurance was paid, whether the person contracted out, and whether they topped up their basic state pension between 12 October 2015 and 5 April 2017.
Consumer magazine Which? explains that before 2002, only employed people could contribute to SERPS. Under the state second pension scheme (2002-2016), contributions could be made through National Insurance by employees earning at least £113 a week, carers of children under 12 claiming child benefit, those claiming carer's credit, and people claiming certain disability-related benefits.
Impact on pensioners
The AP is paid on top of the basic state pension, which also increased from £176.45 to £184.90 per week for a full National Insurance record. Those who retired after April 2016 cannot receive AP and rely on the new state pension, which rose from £230.25 to £241.30 per week.
No confirmation has been made yet about AP rates for April 2027 to April 2028, though announcements could come as part of the Budget on October 28.
