Basic State Pension

From April 2011 the government introduced a guarantee (“triple lock”) that the Basic State Pension will rise by the highest of the following:

• earnings; or

• prices (using the Consumer Price Index – CPI); or

• 2.5%

In 2015-16 the Basic State Pension increase is 2.5%. The standard rate of Basic State Pension for a man or woman with a full contributions record is £115.95 a week. A wife qualifying on her husband’s contributions is entitled to £69.50, making a couple’s pension £185.45 a week.