When are the Easter 2026 State Pension payment dates?

If your State Pension is due over Easter 2026, you might spot it landing in your bank account a little earlier than usual. Think of it as the government’s version of an Easter treat – no chocolate egg included, sadly, but still very welcome.

There hasn’t been a big announcement for Easter 2026 yet, but the payment schedule is likely to follow what’s happened in previous years. Whenever a payment date falls on a bank holiday, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) usually sends the money out on the last working day before the break. It’s their way of making sure you’re not left waiting for the money to show up in your account while the banks take a long weekend.

When will State Pension payments for Easter 2026 be made?

Easter 2026 falls on:

• Good Friday: 3 April 2026.

• Easter Sunday: 5 April 2026.

• Easter Monday: 6 April 2026.

So, if your usual payment date is Friday 3 April or Monday 6 April, your money should arrive in your bank account on Thursday 2 April 2026 instead. There’s no need to call anyone or fill in any forms, it all happens automatically behind the scenes.

If, after Easter, your payment still hasn’t shown up, that’s the moment to contact the Pension Service. But fingers crossed, everything should run smoothly.

When does the State Pension increase start?

April also brings the annual triple lock rise: the mechanism that boosts the State Pension each year by the highest of inflation, wage growth or 2.5%.

Because average wage growth reached 4.8% in the period used by the government – higher than the 3.8% inflation and the 2.5% minimum – the government will use 4.8% to set the new rate.

Here’s what the 4.8% increase means in real numbers:

• People on the full new State Pension (generally those who reached State Pension age after April 2016) will see weekly payments rise to £241.30, which is just over £12,547 a year. That’s an increase of around £574.

• Those on the basic State Pension (typically people who reached State Pension age before April 2016) are likely to see their weekly amount rise to £184.90, which works out at roughly £9,615 a year. That’s an annual increase of around £440.

The increase starts from 6 April, so it likely means anyone paid early on Thursday 2 April won’t receive the new rate until May.

Are other benefit payment dates affected by Easter 2026?

The early‑payment rule doesn’t just apply to the State Pension. Lots of other benefits get the same treatment if they’re due on Good Friday or Easter Monday.

This includes:

• Pension Credit

• Attendance Allowance

• Carer’s Allowance

• Disability Living Allowance

• Employment and Support Allowance

• Income Support

• Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Personal Independence Payment

• Universal Credit

And from the HMRC side:

• Working Tax Credit

• Child Tax Credit

• Child Benefit

• Guardian’s Allowance

If any of these are due over the Easter break, expect them to arrive on Thursday 2 April 2026 instead.

What about benefit payments for other bank holidays in 2026?

The same “pay it early” rule pops up throughout the year. Based on the 2026 bank holiday calendar, here’s what to expect:

• Early May Bank Holiday (Monday 4 May) → paid Friday 1 May

• Spring Bank Holiday (Monday 25 May) → paid Friday 22 May

• Summer Bank Holiday (Monday 31 August) → paid Friday 28 August

• Christmas holidays (Friday 25 & Monday 28 December) → payments will arrive before Christmas, usually on the last working day beforehand.

(Exact dates can vary slightly depending on your usual payment schedule, but this is the general pattern.)

So, if Easter always seems to sneak up on you, at least your payments won’t. With the dates sorted and the new rates confirmed, you’ll know exactly what to expect this spring.