How State Pension Payments Work
The State Pension is paid on a 4-weekly cycle directly into your bank, building society, or credit union account. This means you receive 13 payments per year, not 12. Each payment covers the previous 4 weeks of pension entitlement, so payments are made in arrears.
Your payment day is determined by the last two digits of your National Insurance number and is assigned when you first claim your State Pension. Once set, your payment day remains the same for as long as you receive the pension. You cannot choose or change it.
Your Payment Day Based on NI Number
The last two digits of your National Insurance number determine which day of the week you are paid. The pattern is as follows:
| Last 2 Digits of NI Number | Payment Day |
|---|---|
| 00 to 19 | Monday |
| 20 to 39 | Tuesday |
| 40 to 59 | Wednesday |
| 60 to 79 | Thursday |
| 80 to 99 | Friday |
For example, if your NI number ends in 45, you will be paid on a Wednesday every 4 weeks. If it ends in 72, your payment day is Thursday.
State Pension Payment Schedule 2026
The following table shows the approximate payment dates for each 4-week cycle in 2026. Your actual dates will follow the same pattern but on your specific payment day (Monday through Friday). Bank holiday adjustments are noted where applicable.
| Payment Period | Week Commencing | Bank Holiday Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Period 1 | 5 January 2026 | — |
| Period 2 | 2 February 2026 | — |
| Period 3 | 2 March 2026 | — |
| Period 4 | 30 March 2026 | Good Friday 3 April – Friday payments paid Thursday 2 April |
| Period 5 | 27 April 2026 | Early May bank holiday 4 May – Monday payments paid Friday 1 May |
| Period 6 | 25 May 2026 | Spring bank holiday 25 May – Monday payments paid Friday 22 May |
| Period 7 | 22 June 2026 | — |
| Period 8 | 20 July 2026 | — |
| Period 9 | 17 August 2026 | Summer bank holiday 31 August – Monday payments paid Friday 28 August |
| Period 10 | 14 September 2026 | — |
| Period 11 | 12 October 2026 | — |
| Period 12 | 9 November 2026 | — |
| Period 13 | 7 December 2026 | Christmas – payments adjusted around 25/26 December |
What Happens on Bank Holidays
If your scheduled State Pension payment date falls on a bank holiday, the DWP will pay you on the last working day before the bank holiday. This means your payment arrives early rather than late.
The key bank holidays affecting State Pension payments in 2026 are:
- Good Friday (3 April 2026) – Friday payments paid on Thursday 2 April
- Easter Monday (6 April 2026) – Monday payments paid on Friday 3 April (but this is also Good Friday, so they would be paid Thursday 2 April)
- Early May bank holiday (4 May 2026) – Monday payments paid on Friday 1 May
- Spring bank holiday (25 May 2026) – Monday payments paid on Friday 22 May
- Summer bank holiday (31 August 2026) – Monday payments paid on Friday 28 August
- Christmas Day (25 December 2026, Friday) – Friday payments paid on Thursday 24 December
- Boxing Day (28 December 2026, Monday) – Monday payments paid on Thursday 24 December
How Much Will Each Payment Be?
The amount you receive every 4 weeks depends on your weekly State Pension entitlement. For the 2026/27 tax year, the full new State Pension is £230.25 per week. Since payments cover 4 weeks, each payment for the full pension would be £921.00 (4 × £230.25).
| Weekly Pension | 4-Weekly Payment | Annual Total (13 payments) |
|---|---|---|
| £230.25 (full) | £921.00 | £11,973.00 |
| £197.36 (30 years) | £789.44 | £10,262.72 |
| £131.57 (20 years) | £526.28 | £6,841.64 |
| £65.79 (10 years) | £263.16 | £3,421.08 |
If you are receiving less than the full amount and want to understand why, check our guide on how many NI years you need for a full State Pension.
Tax on Your State Pension Payments
The State Pension is taxable income, but tax is not deducted at source. This means your payment arrives gross (without any tax taken off). If you have other income that uses up your Personal Allowance (£12,570 for 2026/27), HMRC will collect the tax owed on your State Pension through other means – usually by adjusting the tax code on any workplace or private pension income.
If your only income is the full new State Pension of £11,973, you will pay no income tax because it falls below the Personal Allowance. However, if you have other income sources, your State Pension could push you into a taxpaying position. For more details, see our guide on tax on State Pension.
What to Do If Your Payment Is Late
If your State Pension payment has not arrived on the expected date, take these steps:
- Check for bank holidays – Your payment may have been made early if the due date fell on a bank holiday
- Allow one extra working day – Bank processing can sometimes delay payments by a day
- Check your bank account – Verify that your account details are correct and the account is still active
- Contact the Pension Service – Call 0800 731 7898 (free, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm) to report a missing payment
State Pension and Other Benefit Payments
If you receive other DWP benefits alongside your State Pension – such as Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, or Housing Benefit – these may be paid on different days and different cycles. Pension Credit, for example, is paid weekly or fortnightly depending on your circumstances. It is important to track each payment separately to manage your finances effectively.
Budgeting on a 4-Weekly Cycle
The 4-weekly payment cycle can catch people out because it does not align neatly with monthly bills. Here are some practical tips for managing your finances:
- Set up a buffer – Keep at least one payment’s worth of pension in your account as a cushion
- Align direct debits – Try to time monthly bill payments for shortly after your pension arrives
- Track the double-payment months – In some calendar months you will receive two State Pension payments. Use these months to build savings or pay ahead on bills
- Consider weekly budgeting – Instead of budgeting monthly, divide your 4-weekly payment by 4 and allocate a weekly spending amount