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State Retirement Pensions: Uprating

Asked by Steve DarlingLiberal DemocratDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 16 July 2026UIN 17828

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consideration has he given to broadening the scope of countries where the UK state pension receives an annual increase.

Answered by Torsten Bell

UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality and are only uprated abroad where we have a legal requirement to do so, for example in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement that provides for uprating.

This approach has been supported by successive governments over many years with priority given to those living in the UK when drawing up expenditure plans for additional pensioner benefits.

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