State pensioners are being handed another payment boost in April not just for the basic and new state pension rates but also lifting a payment for older state pensioners.

Older state pensioners, who retired before April 2016, could be eligible for a scheme known as the additional state pension (AP).

The AP is, as the name suggests, an additional pension payment on top of the basic state pension, unless you were 'contracted out' through work.

This used to be known as SERPS or the Second State Pension.

The DWP explains in its guidance: "The additional state pension is an extra amount of money you could get on top of your basic State Pension if you're: a man born before 6 April 1951; a woman born before 6 April 1953."

It adds: "You get the additional state pension automatically if you're eligible for it, unless you've contracted out of it. The additional state pension is paid with your basic state pension. There is no fixed amount for the additional state pension. How much you get depends on: how many years you paid National Insurance for your earnings; whether you've contracted out of the scheme; whether you topped up your basic state pension (this was only possible between 12 October 2015 and 5 April 2017)."

Consumer magazine Which? explains: "Before 2002, you could only contribute to the additional state pension (then known as the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme, or SERPS) if you were employed.

However, under the state second pension scheme, which ran from 2002 to 2016, you could contribute through your National Insurance contributions if you were: an employee earning at least £113 a week; caring for one or more children under 12 and claiming child benefit; claiming carer's credit; claiming certain disability-related benefits.

"There is no fixed amount for the additional state pension. The amount of additional state pension you'll get depends on how many years you paid National Insurance for, how much you earned and whether you contracted out of the scheme."

From April 6 2026, the AP rate will increase from 1.7% to 3.8%, with the maximum additional pension set at £230.54 per week, up from £222.10 this year.

That means a state pensioner with AP can get an extra £438.88 per year from this April thanks to the increase in the maximum payment.

AP is paid on top of the basic state pension, which is also increasing, from £176.45 to £184.90 for a maximum entitlement with a full National Insurance record.

Those who retired after April 2016 cannot get AP and instead rely solely on the new state pension, which for a pensioner with a full NI record is being increased from £230.25 to £241.30 per week.