The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions made the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 on 2 March 2026, uprating social security benefits, pensions and statutory pay1. A draft was laid before Parliament and approved by a resolution of each House, and the Treasury consented to the making of the Order1. It was signed by Stephen Timms, Minister of State, on 2 March 20261. The Order revokes the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 20251.
The full rate of the new State Pension rises from £230.25 to £241.30 a week1. The basic State Pension in a Category A retirement pension rises from £135.50 to £140.65, and the higher figure in the same provision from £176.45 to £184.901. Additional pensions in long-term benefits, increases in the rates of retirement pensions where entitlement is deferred, and shared additional pensions are each increased by 3.8 per cent1. Increases payable under section 15(1) of the Pension Schemes Act 1993 are 3.8 per cent where attributable to earnings factors for 1987-88 and earlier tax years, and 0.8 per cent for 1988-89 to 1996-97 inclusive1.
Statutory sick pay rises from £118.75 to £123.251. Statutory paternity pay, statutory adoption pay and the other statutory payments listed in the Order rise from £187.18 to £194.321.
"A draft of this Order was laid before Parliament in accordance with sections 150(2), 150A(2) and 190(1)(a) of that Act, and approved by a resolution of each House."
The Order extends to England and Wales and Scotland, except for provisions covering attendance allowance, severe disablement allowance, age related addition, carer's allowance and the increase for an adult dependant payable with severe disablement allowance, and the disability living allowance and personal independence payment articles, which extend to England and Wales only1.
| Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Full rate of new State Pension (weekly) | £230.25 | £241.301 |
| Basic State Pension, Category A (weekly) | £135.50 | £140.651 |
| Statutory sick pay (weekly) | £118.75 | £123.251 |
| Statutory paternity, adoption and related pay (weekly) | £187.18 | £194.321 |
Why it matters for households
The Order sets the amounts paid to pensioners and benefit claimants and the floor for statutory payments made by employers. Most of the pension and benefit changes take effect on 6 April 2026, while the provisions on citation, interpretation and change dates come into force on 1 April 20261. Statutory sick pay changes at 00.01 on 6 April 2026, and statutory maternity pay changes on 5 April 2026, except for determining the maternity allowance rate, which is 6 April 20261. Income support, jobseeker's allowance, state pension credit, employment and support allowance and universal credit changes apply to a particular claimant from the first day of the first benefit week or assessment period beginning on or after 6 April 20261. Housing benefit changes apply on 6 April 2026 where rent is payable weekly or at a multiple of a week, and on 1 April 2026 otherwise1. The revocation of the 2025 Order takes effect on 5 May 20262.
What happens next
The new rates apply from the dates set out in the Order, mostly in early April 20261. The Order does not itself announce any further uprating; the next review would follow the same statutory process. How the State Pension is uprated each year, the basic State Pension, SERPS and Additional State Pension, and how pensions affect Pension Credit and other benefits are set out in the site's guides.
Sources2 cited
- The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 legislation.gov.uk
- The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 legislation.gov.uk
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