What is the triple lock and why are people talking about it?

The triple lock is a policy that ensures the state pension rises annually based on inflation, wage increases, or 2.5%, whichever is highest. It was introduced in 2010 to prevent the pension from falling behind living costs and workers' incomes. The state pension, paid every four weeks by the government, is for those who have reached the qualifying age and made enough National Insurance contributions.

However, concerns about the triple lock's affordability have resurfaced, leading to debates on whether it should be scrapped to fund social care. The new flat-rate state pension for those who reached the state pension age after April 2016 is £250.70 a week, or £13,036.40 a year, while the old basic state pension for those who reached the state pension age before April 2016 is £192.10 a week, or £9,989.20 a year.

The government will confirm the April 2027 state pension increase in the upcoming Budget, which could take the flat-rate state pension above the personal allowance, potentially resulting in income tax.