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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has unveiled the most recent statistics, indicating that there are currently 13 million individuals of State Pension age across Great Britain. Of

this figure, 34 per cent are beneficiaries of the New State Pension, whilst the remaining 66 per cent receive the Basic/Old State Pension. The Triple Lock guarantee ensures that both the New

and Basic State Pensions rise annually in accordance with the highest of three factors: the average annual earnings growth from May to July, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate in

the year to September, or 2.5 per cent. However, a former DWP employee cautions that additional elements of the State Pension, including deferred amounts, increase by the September CPI

rate, creating what she refers to as a 'two-tier uprating system for pensioners. '. Sandra Wrench, who boasts 42 years of experience dealing with State Pensions and benefits

administered by the DWP, previously expressed her concerns to DWP Ministers in 2023. The pensions expert clarified that some pensioners might not be aware that this year's Triple Lock

uprating of 4.1 per cent only applies to the New and Basic State Pension payment rates. Additional components have seen an increase of 1.7 per cent, the September CPI inflation rate, Wrench

explained. This is also the uprating applied to Universal Credit and other benefits administered by the DWP, reports Linda Howard at the Daily Record. The former DWP employee shed light on

the intricacies of the Triple Lock, stating: "The Triple Lock guarantee only covers the BASIC State Pension and not all components, the other components being Additional Pension (the

scheme which existed between 1978-April 5, 2016 and which you could contract out of), Graduated Pension (1961-1975), increments for deferring your State Pension, and the protected pension

which is any amount in excess of the 100% rate of the new 100 per cent State Pension which you might be entitled to at April 6, 2016." _GET ALL THE LATEST MONEY NEWS SENT STRAIGHT TO

YOUR INBOX BY_ _ SIGNING UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER HERE. _ They further detailed the pension calculation process: "With the calculation of the New State Pension at April 6, 2016, in most

cases, all the components of the old State Pension have been added together to give a basic State Pension, and where applicable a protected pension, which is the excess above the 100 per

cent rate of the New State Pension." Wrapping up their explanation, they remarked: "So by adding all the components together this has brought components such as additional pension,

within the scope of the Triple Lock, which was 4.1 per cent this April 2025. Under the old scheme, additional pension would have just been increased by the CPI rate of 1.7 per cent for this

April 2025. "With The Triple Lock relating to the basic rates of the State Pension only, this has created a two-tier uprating system for those who reached State Pension Age before

April 2016 where the 100 per cent rate of the Old/Basic State Pension is currently £176.45 a week and those who reached retirement age after April 2016 where the 100 per cent rate of the New

State Pension is higher at £230.25." TO PUT THIS INTO CONTEXT, SHE GAVE AN ILLUSTRATION: Imagine someone who hit State Pension Age before April 2016 with a weekly State Pension total

of £240.00. This amount breaks down to 100% Old/Basic State Pension at £176.45, plus an additional pension of £59.75 and a graduated pension of £3.80. Now contrast that with an individual

who became of State Pension Age post-April 2016 with the same weekly pension figure of £240.00. Their sum comprises 100% New State Pension at £230.25, supplemented by a protected payment of

£9.75. Come April 2026, the person who was of State Pension Age prior to April 2016 will only see their £176.45 subject to the Triple Lock increases. In comparison, a newer retiree who

reached State Pension Age after April 2016 will benefit from a Triple Lock boost on the larger sum of £230.25. Mrs Wrench elaborated: "You can see how a person who reached State Pension

Age before April 2016 has a lower percentage of their State Pension uprated by the Triple Lock compared with those who reached State Pension Age after April 2016. "Because of this

difference in basic pension and the Triple lock only relating to the basic rate of the State Pension, this will inevitably lead to those who reached State Pension Age before April 2016

falling further behind with every annual uprating." An insider shed light on the situation, noting that when the Triple Lock was introduced in 2011, there was just one State Pension

(Old/Basic), but since the New State Pension came into effect in April 2016, questions have been raised about whether it should also benefit from the Triple Lock. _GET ALL THE LATEST MONEY

NEWS SENT STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX BY_ _ SIGNING UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER HERE. _ Yet, she cautions that any potential changes to the Triple Lock "will particularly affect poorer pensioners,

such as those who do not have other sources of income, those who are disabled and not able to work full time, and women with caring responsibilities who have had to work part time and who

may not have had the opportunity to build up any private or work pension". Mrs Wrench commented: "The DWP have confirmed they cannot means-test the State Pension, so possibly the

only way that the increased costs for State Pension can be addressed is through some adjustment to the Triple Lock, and to reassess the annual uprating of the State Pension. TO ILLUSTRATE

THE IMPACT OF UPRATING, MRS WRENCH PROVIDED TWO EXAMPLES: From April 6, 2016, a woman who reached State Pension Age after April 2016 has a Basic State Pension of £63.63 and an Additional

Pension of £24.82. These two components were combined on April 6, 2016 to provide her with a starting amount of £88.45 for the New State Pension. This £88.45 is now entirely considered as

Basic State Pension under the new scheme. If you reached State Pension Age before April 2016, under the old scheme, the basic State Pension of £63.63 would have been increased by the Triple

Lock, and the additional pension of £24.82 would have been raised at the lower CPI rate. However, by merging the two for the New State Pension from April 6, 2016, this means that all this

amount is considered as basic state Pension and increases by the Triple Lock. Therefore, those who reached State Pension Age after April 2016 are at an advantage compared to those who

reached retirement age before April 2016, in terms of the Triple Lock increase. An individual who reached State Pension Age after April 6, 2016 receives the full 100% rate of the basic State

Pension which was then £119.30 (under the old scheme) and an Additional Pension of £75.00. The Basic £119.30 plus AP £75.00 equals £194.30 as of April 6, 2016, which was converted into the

100% rate of the New State Pension of £155.65 (the 100% rate at April 6, 2016) plus a protected payment of £38.65. The Basic State Pension is subject to increases by the Triple Lock, but

protected payment rises in line with the CPI rate. As a result, some of the additional pension has been converted into Basic State Pension and falls under the purview of The Triple Lock.

STATE PENSION PAYMENTS FOR 2025/26 The DWP has published the full list of State Pension and benefit uprated payments on GOV.UK here, which also includes additional elements such as the

deferred rates, which have risen by 1.7 per cent (September Consumer Price Index inflation rate). Full New State Pension. * Weekly payment: £230.25 * Fortnightly payment: £460.50 *

Four-weekly payment: £921 * Annual amount: £11,973 Full Basic State Pension * Weekly payment: £176.45 * Fortnightly payment: £352.90 * Four-weekly payment: £705.80 * Annual amount: £9,175

Future increases in State Pension. The Labour Government has pledged to honour the Triple Lock or the duration of its term and the latest predictions show the following projected annual

increases: * 2025/26 - 4.1%, the forecast was 4% * 2026/27 - 2.5% * 2027/28 - 2.5% * 2028/29 - 2.5% * 2029/30 - 2.5%