Nearly 450,000 elderly UK residents will not benefit from the upcoming state pension increase in the next year. The state pension is projected to rise by 4.7% in April, following the triple lock mechanism that ensures an annual increase based on the highest value among inflation, wage growth, or 2.5%.
Recent data from the Office for National Statistics confirms a 4.7% increase in average wage growth, while inflation stands at 3.8%. This suggests that the state pension is likely to align with the wage growth rate.
Unfortunately, approximately 453,000 expatriate pensioners residing in countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada will not see the pension increment due to the absence of reciprocal agreements for annual adjustments.
For expats with frozen state pensions, their rates remain unchanged unless they return to live in the UK. Only those in the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, or countries with social security agreements with the UK (except Canada and New Zealand) see yearly pension increases while abroad.
If the 4.7% rise is confirmed, the full new state pension will jump from £230.25 per week to £241.05 per week in April 2026, equating to over £560 extra per year. The basic state pension will also increase from £176.45 to £184.75 per week. These figures represent the maximum state pension amounts, subject to variations based on individual National Insurance records.
To receive the full new state pension, most individuals need 35 qualifying years on their National Insurance record, with a minimum of ten years to qualify for any amount. State pensions are administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).