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The Pensions Increase (Review) Order 2026

S.I. 2026/256 · Made 9 March 2026

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PENSIONS

Made 9th March 2026

Laid before Parliament 11th March 2026

Coming into force 6th April 2026

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has, by virtue of section 151 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992f1, given a directionf2 that the sums mentioned in section 150(1)(c) of that Act are to be increased by a specified percentage.

The Treasury make this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 59(1), (2), (5) and (5ZA) of the Social Security Pensions Act 1975f3 and now vested in themf4.

Annotations to the whole text

Footnotes

f1

1992 c. 5; Section 151 was amended by paragraph 29 of Schedule 8 to the Pension Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48), section 130(2) of the Pensions Act 1995 (c. 26), paragraph 22 of Schedule 11 to the Pensions Act 2004 (c. 19), section 2(3) of the Pensions Act 2011 (c. 19) and paragraph 20 of Schedule 12 to the Pensions Act 2014 (c. 19).

f2

S.I. 2026/148.

f3

1975 c. 60. Section 59(1) was amended by section 1(7) of the Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1990 (c. 7) and by the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992 (c. 6), Schedule 2, paragraph 34. Section 59(5) was amended by section 11(1) of the Social Security Act 1979 (c. 18) and the Social Security Act 1985 (c. 53), Schedule 5, paragraph 33. Section 59 was also amended by the Social Security Act 1979, section 11 and Schedule 3, paragraph 20; section 9(8) of the Social Security Act 1986 (c. 50) (which inserted subsection (5A)); section 5 of the Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1990 and the Pensions Schemes Act 1993 (c. 48), section 190 and Schedule 8, paragraph 9(1). Section 59 was modified by section 59A of the same Act, which was inserted by section 11(4) of the Social Security Act 1979, amended by the Social Security Act 1986, section 9(9), and further amended by the Pensions Schemes Act 1993, section 190 and Schedule 8, paragraph 9(2). Section 59(5ZA) was inserted by section 5(1) of the Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1990 and amended by section 137 and Part 6 of Schedule 11 to the Pensions Act 2008 (c. 30), S.I. 2014/3229 and S.I. 2014/560. Subsections 59(5ZA), (5ZB), (5ZC) and (7) were amended by S.I. 2014/560 and S.I. 2014/3229. Subsections 59(5ZB) and (7) were amended by S.I. 2014/3168. Subsections 59(5ZC) and (7) were amended by S.I. 2020/1143.

f4

By virtue of article 2(1)(c) and (d) of S.I. 1981/1670.

Contents

  1. 1Citation, commencement and extent
  2. 2Interpretation
  3. 3Pension increase: annual rate and lump sums
  4. 4Reductions in respect of guaranteed minimum pensions
  5. Signature
  6. Explanatory note

1Citation, commencement and extent

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Pensions Increase (Review) Order 2026 and comes into force on 6th April 2026.

(2)

This Order extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

2Interpretation

(1)

In this Order, “the Act” means the Social Security Pensions Act 1975.

(2)

In this Order, any reference to a pension is a reference to a pension which began before 6th April 2026f1.

3Pension increase: annual rate and lump sums

(1)

This article applies to an official pension if—

(a)

a qualifying condition is satisfied; or

(b)

the pension is—

(i)

a derivative pension;

(ii)

a substituted pension; or

(iii)

a relevant injury pension.

(2)

In relation to any period on or after 6th April 2026, the pension authority may increase the annual ratef1 of the pension—

(a)

for a pension which began before 7th April 2025, by 3.8 per cent;

(b)

for a pension which began on or after 7th April 2025, by 3.8 per cent multiplied by—

A 12

where A is the number of complete months in the period between the beginning datef2 of the pension and 6th April 2026.

(3)

In relation to a lump sumf3 which is payable on or after 7th April 2025 but before 6th April 2026, the pension authority may increase the lump sum by 3.8 per cent multiplied by—

A 12

where A is the number of complete monthsf4 in the period between the beginning date of the lump sum (or, if later, 7th April 2025) and the date on which it becomes payable.

4Reductions in respect of guaranteed minimum pensions

(1)

Where—

(a)

a person is entitled to an increase in a guaranteed minimum pension on 6th April 2026; and

(b)

entitlement to that guaranteed minimum pension arises from an employment from which (either directly, or indirectly by virtue of the payment of a transfer credit) entitlement to the official pension also arises,

the amount by reference to which any increase is calculated for the purposes of article 3(2) must be reduced by an amount equal to the rate of the guaranteed minimum pension unless the Treasury otherwise direct in accordance with the provision of section 59A of the Actf1.

(2)

Where on the death of a spouse or civil partner a person becomes entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension in relation to a surviving spouse’s pension or a surviving civil partner’s pension, the amount by reference to which any increase is calculated for the purposes of article 3(2) must be reduced in accordance with section 59(5ZA) of the Act.

Signature

Taiwo Owatemi

Gen Kitchen

Two of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury

9th March 2026

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Under section 59 of the Social Security and Pensions Act 1975 (c. 60) (increase of official pensions) where the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, under section 151(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5), directs that the sums in section 150(1)(c) of the 1992 Act are to be increased by a specified percentage, the Treasury must make an order to increase the rates in public service pensions. The Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 (c. 56) defines certain terms, sets out when a pension “begins” and how the increase applies to lump sums.

The increase to be applied is the same as the percentage by which the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has, by direction under the Social Security Administration Act 1992, increased the additional pension entitlements accruing to employees in respect of earnings for service after 5th April 1978.

For pensions which began before 7th April 2025 the increase is 3.8 per cent. For pensions which began on or after the 7th April 2025 the increases (following the calculation set out in article 3) are as follows—

Pensions beginningPensions increase
07th April 2025 to 21st April 20253.8%
22nd April 2025 to 21st May 20253.48%
22nd May 2025 to 21st June 20253.17%
22nd June 2025 to 21st July 20252.85%
22nd July 2025 to 21st August 20252.53%
22nd August 2025 to 21st September 20252.22%
22nd September 2025 to 21st October 20251.9%
22nd October 2025 to 21st November 20251.58%
22nd November 2025 to 21st December 20251.27%
22nd December 2025 to 21st January 20260.95%
22nd January 2026 to 21st February 20260.63%
22nd February 2026 to 21st March 20260.32%

Article 3(3) of the Order provides for increases on certain deferred lump sums which become payable on or after 7th April 2025 and before 6th April 2026.

Article 4 of the Order sets out reductions to pension increases where a person is entitled to a guaranteed minimum pension deriving from an employment giving rise to the official pension. Where that is the case, the amount by reference to which any increase in the person’s pension is to be calculated is to be reduced by an amount equal to the rate of the guaranteed minimum pension entitlement, unless the Treasury otherwise direct.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.