Some older state pensioners can now receive up to £415.44 per week following April’s payment update. The increase reflects changes to both the basic state pension and additional elements linked to older pension schemes.
Additional Pension Boosts Weekly Income
The higher total is made possible through Additional Pension (AP), a system that applied before the introduction of the new state pension in 2016. This includes schemes such as SERPS and the Second State Pension, which allowed workers to build extra entitlement over time.
Although these schemes are now closed to new retirees, those who contributed in the past can still receive these extra payments. From April 6, the maximum weekly AP amount has increased from £222.10 to £230.54, adding up to £646.88 more per year.
Combined Payments Reach £415 Per Week
When combined with the basic state pension, which has risen from £176.45 to £184.90, total weekly income for some older pensioners can now reach £415.44.
This places certain older retirees in a position where they receive more than those on the newer system. By comparison, the new state pension has increased to £241.30 per week, and does not include Additional Pension elements.
Why Some Pensioners Receive More Than Others
The difference comes down to how the systems were structured. Under the previous model, workers could build up extra pension based on earnings and National Insurance contributions. This created a more variable outcome, with some individuals receiving higher overall payments.
Eligibility for Additional Pension depended on factors such as employment status, income level and participation in schemes over time. For example, contributions could be built while working, or in certain cases while caring for children or receiving specific benefits.
How Additional Pension Was Built
Before 2002, participation in SERPS was mainly linked to employment. Later, under the Second State Pension, more people could qualify through National Insurance contributions, including some carers and those on qualifying benefits.
There is no fixed payment for Additional Pension. The final amount depends on years of contributions, earnings history and whether the individual opted out of the scheme at any point.
What This Means for Retirees
For older pensioners, the April increase reinforces the value of earlier contributions under the previous system. Those who built up Additional Pension may now see a noticeable difference in their weekly income.
At the same time, the gap between old and new pension systems remains a point of discussion. While the newer model is more straightforward, it does not offer the same potential for higher combined payments seen in some legacy cases.
