State pensioners under the age of 77 who reached the state pension age after April 2016 are set to receive up to £1,930.40 in DWP payments this July, thanks to the month having five Thursdays. The payments apply to those whose National Insurance number ends in digits 60 to 79, as these individuals are typically paid on Thursdays.
How the Double Payment Works
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pays state pensions every four weeks, not weekly, despite figures often being reported as weekly amounts. For new state pensioners (those who reached state pension age from April 2016 onwards), the basic weekly rate is £241.30, following a 4.8% increase under the Triple Lock in April 2026. Over a four-week period, this amounts to £965.20 per payment for those with a full National Insurance record. Since July 2026 has five Thursdays, eligible pensioners will receive two payments within the month, totalling up to £1,930.40.
Eligibility and Payment Dates
New state pensioners are those who hit state pension age in 2016 or later, meaning they would be no older than 63 for women and 65 for men at that time, and up to 76 now depending on their birthday. The exact payment date depends on the last two digits of the National Insurance number. According to the DWP, those with NI numbers ending in 60 to 79 are normally paid on Thursdays. Older state pensioners (those who reached state pension age before April 2016) receive a lower basic rate of £184.90 per week, or £1,661.76 every four weeks, and may also receive Additional State Pension payments.
Impact of Incomplete National Insurance Records
Pensioners with incomplete National Insurance records will receive lower total payments. The DWP calculates the exact amount on a case-by-case basis when an individual first reaches state pension age. The annual sum for a full basic rate new state pension is £12,547.60.
Tax Changes for State Pensioners
The Chancellor has announced that state pensioners who exceed the £12,570 Personal Tax Allowance will not owe tax on their state pension, provided they have no other income. However, details of how this will be implemented are yet to be revealed. HM Treasury has confirmed to The Express that Additional State Pension schemes for older pensioners will not be exempt from tax.
