State pensioners under the age of 77 can receive up to £1,930.40 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in July 2026, thanks to two payments falling within the same month. This applies to those who reached state pension age after April 2016, known as new state pensioners, who receive a higher weekly rate of £241.30 compared to £184.90 for older pensioners, following the recent Triple Lock increase of 4.8% in April.
How the Two Payments Work
Although state pension amounts are often quoted as weekly figures, DWP payments are actually made every four weeks. For new state pensioners with a full National Insurance record, each four-week payment amounts to £965.20. Because July 2026 contains five Wednesdays, pensioners whose National Insurance number ends in digits between 40 and 59—normally paid on Wednesdays—will receive two payments in July, totalling a maximum of £1,930.40.
Those with incomplete National Insurance records will receive a lower amount, calculated by the DWP on a case-by-case basis when they first reach state pension age.
Tax Changes for State Pensions
The Chancellor has announced that state pensioners who exceed the £12,570 Personal Tax Allowance will no longer owe tax on their state pension, provided they have no other income. However, HM Treasury has confirmed to the Express that additional state pension schemes for older pensioners will not be exempt from tax. Details of how this will be implemented are yet to be released.
The annual basic rate for older state pensioners stands at £12,547.60.
