Pensions Increase - 2026

Read about the Pensions Increase award for 2026 - 3.8% payable with effect from 6th April.

Pensions Increase 2026

The Annual Pensions Increase for 2026 is 3.8%, payable from 6th April 2026.

Your annual pension will therefore be increased by 3.8% from 6th April 2026 (but see the exceptions below).

The increase of 3.8% is the same as the rise in the Consumer Price Index for the year to September 2025 – the benchmark period for determining State Pension and Public Sector Pensions Increases.

Falkirk Council’s pensions are payable in arrears on the 15th of each month. This means that:

·         your payment on 15th April will only include 10 days at your new rate of pension

·         your payment on 15th May will be based entirely on your new rate of pension.

 Retired Recently?

Normally, if you have been on pension for under 1 year, you will only get a proportion of the full increase (i.e. 3.8%).

If you are receiving a Survivor’s Pension with a short-term element (e.g. a widow, widower or child’s pension), the increase will only come into effect when the long-term element comes into payment – this may be later than 6th April.    

Under Age 55?

If you are under age 55, you will only be entitled to pensions increase if you retired on ill health grounds or you are receiving a Survivor’s Pension (e.g. a widow, widower or child’s pension).  

If you are under age 55 and you retired on health grounds having previously been a deferred member (i.e. your pension was not payable immediately after you left employment), then you are only entitled to pensions increase if you have been deemed unfit for all regular employment.         

Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP)

Your pension may include an element of GMP, if you were a pension scheme member before 6th April 1997, and this may consist of Pre-88 and/or Post-88 elements.  The pensions increase on your Pre-88 GMP is paid with your State Pension.  The pensions increase on your Post-88 GMP is payable by Falkirk Council Pension Fund (the Fund). 

However, if your pension contains GMP and you reached State Pension age on or after 6th April 2016, the Fund will pay the pensions increase on both the GMP and non GMP elements of your pension.          

Likewise, if you have reached GMP Age (age 60 for females and 65 for men) but have not yet reached State Pension age (and are, therefore, not in receipt of your State Pension), the Fund will pay the pensions increase on both the GMP and non GMP elements of your pension.

Pensions Section

April 2026