In May 2026, retirees will experience three significant changes to the state pension under the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), following April’s pension increase.
Because the UK observes two bank holidays next month—the Early May Bank Holiday on Monday, May 4, and the Spring Bank Holiday on Monday, May 25—pension payment dates will be adjusted accordingly. Both the government and the Labour Party have confirmed that payments normally scheduled on these holidays will be paid earlier. As stated by the government, “Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. If your payment date falls on a weekend or a Bank Holiday, you’ll usually be paid on the working day before.”
For example, payments due on Monday, May 4, will be made on Friday, May 1, while those usually paid on Monday, May 25, will arrive on Friday, May 22. Pension payment days are based on the last two digits of National Insurance numbers: 00–19 receive payments on Mondays, 20–39 on Tuesdays, 40–59 on Wednesdays, 60–79 on Thursdays, and 80–99 on Fridays.
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Alongside these payment adjustments, the full flat-rate state pension will rise by 4.8%, increasing from £230.25 to £241.30 per week for those who reached state pension age after April 2016. This translates to a £575 annual increase, bringing the total to £12,548. Similarly, the amount for those reaching pension age from April 2016 will rise from £176.45 to £184.90 per week.
Another important update affects the state pension age itself, which will begin rising from 66 to 67 starting April 2026. This change will be introduced gradually, with additional months being added to the pension age every two months until 2028. By then, all new pensioners will reach the state pension age of 67, with transitional periods where the pension age varies between 66 years and 1 to 11 months.
These developments highlight ongoing adjustments to the state pension system aimed at aligning it with demographic changes and ensuring timely payments despite bank holidays.