Pensions - Articles - State pensioners in line for three in a row increase

 Steven Cameron, Pensions Director at Aegon comments: “Pensioners are set for another inflation-busting increase to their state pension next April, making it three years in a row, as the September price inflation measure was confirmed as just 0.5%. This is one of the three measures setting the 'triple lock’, along with earnings growth to July which was minus 1% and a 2.5% minimum guarantee. This means subject to any last-minute changes and final Government confirmation, pensioners should receive a 2.5% increase to their state pension meaning someone on the full new state pension of £175.20 per week will receive an increase to £179.60 or an extra £4.40 per week.

 “Since April 2019, the state pension has received an above inflation increase with the 3.9% increase in April 2020 2.2% higher than price inflation and next year’s exceeding inflation by a further 2%. While this will be welcomed news in a difficult climate for pensioners, concerns remain over both the affordability and intergenerational fairness of maintaining the triple lock.

 “The state pension is not funded in advance but on a ‘pay as you go’ basis from today’s workers’ National Insurance contributions. The Chancellor will no doubt be facing difficult decisions over whether he can afford to retain the triple lock as he supports the economy through wave two of the pandemic and looks ahead to getting the nation’s finances back on track.”