DWP has published its latest benefits statistics: DWP benefit statistics: February 2026
Clare Stinton, Financial Wellbeing Lead, Hargreaves Lansdown: “Fresh figures released this morning show a steady increase in the number of people claiming the State Pension, with 13.2 million now receiving payments – a rise of 243,000. The average weekly payment has also climbed to £210.73, up £8.78 year-on-year, offering retirees a small but welcome boost amidst ongoing cost-of-living pressures.
The number of people claiming the new State Pension is growing too, with 5 million retirees now receiving it, an increase of 740,000 since August 2024. The new system bases entitlement on an individual’s National Insurance (NI) record, which has been a gamechanger for women, helping to close the historic inequalities embedded in the old State Pension.
Women are benefiting from the new State Pension system, with female recipients receiving on average £214.41 per week, compared with £194.94 for women receiving payments via the legacy system. However, this pattern does not hold for men, whose average payments under the old State Pension remain slightly higher at £225.04 per week, compared to £214.41 under the new State Pension.
The data also highlights reliance on Pension Credit, with women making up 66% of recipients. This underlines the ongoing financial vulnerability many older women face, despite progress in narrowing pension disparities.
To receive the full £230.25 in the 2025/26 tax year, retirees need 35 qualifying years of NI contributions. For anyone receiving less than the full amount - or those approaching retirement - now is the time to check your NI record via the Government website to make sure you’re getting every pound you’re entitled to.
Missing years don’t have to mean missing money. You may be able to plug gaps in your NI record through benefit credits, and some credits, such as those for periods when you were eligible for Child Benefit or Carer’s Allowance should be applied automatically, so it’s worth checking for any errors. Voluntary contributions can also help, and most gaps can usually be backdated for the previous six tax years.”
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