DWP Issues Letters to State Pensioners Born Before 1960
The Department for Work and Pensions has begun mailing updated pension statements to people aged 66 and older. The correspondence outlines changes that take effect in April 2026.
Who is receiving the letters
Letters are going to state pensioners born in and around 1960 and to those born earlier. Recipients will see details of the upcoming annual uprating.
One pensioner shared on an HMRC forum that they received a notice confirming a payment rise from April 2026. The poster said they receive their pension weekly.
How payments will change
The uprating applied next April will raise the full New State Pension to £241.30 per week. The maximum Basic State Pension will increase to £184.90 per week.
By comparison, the full New State Pension currently stands at £230.25 each week. The full Basic State Pension is presently £176.45 weekly.
| Pension type | Current weekly | New weekly (Apr 2026) | Current four-week |
|---|---|---|---|
| New State Pension (full) | £230.25 | £241.30 | £921.00 |
| Basic State Pension (full) | £176.45 | £184.90 | £705.80 |
Campaigners and tax concerns
Sally Tsoukaris, General Secretary of the CSPA, welcomed the 4.7% uplift. She said the continuation of the triple-lock helps pensions keep pace with wages and inflation.
Campaigners warn that a frozen income tax threshold will blunt the benefit of the increase. The basic personal allowance remains at £12,570, frozen since April 2021.
Impact of the frozen tax threshold
Because the personal allowance is unchanged, more pension income could become taxable. The freeze is expected to remain until at least April 2028.
Campaigners calculate that, had the allowance tracked CPI inflation, it would now be about £15,518. That level would exceed the highest weekly State Pension when annualised.
What campaign groups plan next
The CSPA and partners in Later Life Ambitions will publish a Budget for Later Life in October. Their proposals include raising the personal tax threshold and protecting the triple-lock.
Filmogaz.com will follow responses from government and advocacy groups as the April changes take effect. Pensioners receiving DWP letters should check the new figures and seek advice if needed.
