Some older state pensioners will receive two Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) state pension payments in October 2026, with a combined total of up to £1,479.20. This applies to those whose National Insurance number ends in digits between 80 and 99, as they are normally paid on Fridays.
October 2026 has five Fridays, from Friday, October 2 to Friday, October 30. As a result, eligible older state pensioners with these National Insurance numbers will get their basic rate state pension paid twice during the month, assuming they have a full National Insurance record.
Payment Schedule and Amounts
State pension payments are actually made every four weeks, although the exact payment date depends on when a person first claimed and their National Insurance number. For each four-week period, older state pensioners can receive up to £739.60 from their basic rate state pension, provided they have maximised their National Insurance record.
Those who retired before April 2016 receive less per week than new state pensioners, at £184.90 per week compared with £241.30 for new state pensioners, even after the recent Triple Lock boost, which added 4.8% in April. This figure does not include any Additional Pension or SERPS payments they may be entitled to.
Pension Credit and Additional Payments
Pension Credit can top up an older state pensioner's income. For example, an older state pensioner who only qualifies for the basic state pension gets £184.90 per week, but Pension Credit can raise this amount to up to £238 per week. However, other income such as work earnings, property income, savings interest or a private pension is counted first, and the full amount may not be available if income limits are exceeded.
Older state pensioners can also continue to receive Additional Pension schemes, such as SERPS and Second State Pension, which could increase their total payments above the base amounts. These schemes are no longer open to new members, but those enrolled through their employer before retirement still receive AP amounts each week on top of their basic pension.
Tax Changes and Annual Totals
The annual sum of basic rate state pension payments for an older state pensioner is £9,614.80. The Chancellor has announced that state pensioners who exceed the £12,570 Personal Tax Allowance will not owe tax on their state pension, as long as they have no other income. Details of how this will work are yet to be revealed, although Additional State Pension schemes for older state pensioners will not be exempted from tax, HM Treasury has confirmed.
