Older state pensioners can now receive up to £415.44 per week from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if they maximise two elements of their old state pension. This amount exceeds the new state pension payment of £241.30 per week.
Additional Pension Increase
The Additional Pension (AP), which includes schemes like the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) and the Second State Pension, has seen its maximum weekly payment rise from £222.10 to £230.54 from April 6. Over a year, this provides an extra £646.88.
AP is an umbrella term for extra pension schemes available to older pensioners before the basic state pension was replaced in 2016 by the new state pension. Although new retirees cannot join AP, those who contributed before 2016 still receive weekly payments.
Basic State Pension Increase
The basic state pension for older pensioners with a full National Insurance record also rose from £176.45 to £184.90 per week from April. Combined with the maximum AP payment, a pensioner can receive £415.44 weekly, significantly more than the new state pension of £241.30.
Eligibility for Additional Pension
Consumer magazine Which? explains that before 2002, only employees could contribute to SERPS. From 2002 to 2016, the state second pension allowed contributions 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.
Which? notes that the amount of additional state pension depends on years of NI contributions, earnings, and whether you contracted out of the scheme. The maximum for 2026-27 is £230.54 per week, excluding state pension top-up.
