Burnham hands older state pensioners £189 a week in triple lock boost | Personal Finance | Finance

Older state pensioners are set for another boost to their weekly DWP pension payments under new prime minister Andy Burnham.

The UK’s latest PM – the seventh in 10 years – has already spoken about his desire to keep the state pension triple lock in place, which is also a Labour manifesto promise.

It means that older state pensioners – and younger ones – will get at least an extra 2.5% in their weekly state pension from next April when it is next triple lock boosted, and probably more.

That’s because the triple lock legally increases state pension income automatically each year, by one of three metrics – wage growth, inflation or a flat 2.5%, whichever is highest.

Currently, older state pensioners can collect up to £184.90 in their weekly A 2.5% increase means that payments would increase by approximately £4.62 per week, up to an estimated £189.52.

That is the amount for those with a full National Insurance record, but individuals may have different final payment amounts based on their personal history of NI contributions. Older state pensioners are also able to collect other, now defunct, uplifts including Second State Pension payments, on top of their basic weekly DWP payments.

However, the increase to the basic payments alone is likely to be higher than 2.5%. In April 2026, the pension payments rose by 4.8%, in line with wage growth, and in April 2025, the state pension rose by 4.1%, again in line with wage growth.

In 2024, the state pension rose by a bumper 8.5% in line with inflation, one of the largest increases ever seen.

Tom Selby, director of public policy at AJ Bell, said on the back of the Tony Blair Institute calling for the triple lock to be axed: “The triple lock has become a totemic symbol of support for older workers and pensioners, with no political party yet prepared to tackle the question of how we fund the subsequent growth in state pension spending over the long term.

“Inevitably, a state pension which rises faster than wages and inflation over time can’t be sustained indefinitely without massive cutbacks elsewhere.”

Earlier this month, Andy Burnham has said it is “important” to continue the Labour manifesto commitment to maintain the triple lock on the state pension.

Reddit user Masam10 asked in an online Q and A: “Is it time to abolish the triple lock? Or at least have that discussion?”

The Makerfield MP replied: “I appreciate there’s a lot of debate about this but it is important that the commitment in the manifesto stands.”