State Pension payment dates October 2026: your payday
The day State Pension is paid depends on the last two digits of a National Insurance number, and no October 2026 payday falls on a UK bank holiday, GOV.UK says.
State Pension is usually paid every four weeks, on a day set by the last two digits of a National Insurance number, according to GOV.UK. None of the payment dates in October 2026 falls on a UK bank holiday, so no date moves this month.
The same National Insurance ranges and payment days apply to both the new State Pension and the older basic State Pension, GOV.UK’s separate guides for each show.
| NI number ends | Payday | Dates in October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 00 to 19 | Monday | 5, 12, 19 and 26 October 2026 |
| 20 to 39 | Tuesday | 6, 13, 20 and 27 October 2026 |
| 40 to 59 | Wednesday | 7, 14, 21 and 28 October 2026 |
| 60 to 79 | Thursday | 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 October 2026 |
| 80 to 99 | Friday | 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 October 2026 |
What happens if a payday falls on a bank holiday?
A payment might be paid earlier if the normal day is a bank holiday, GOV.UK says. There is no bank holiday in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland in October 2026, the official bank holidays list shows, so the dates above are not affected this month.
When is the first payment made, and how is a date checked?
A first State Pension payment is made no later than five weeks after the date a claimant chooses to start their pension, with a full payment every four weeks after that, GOV.UK says. A letter sent after the claim explains what to expect, and a request to change the receiving account goes through the Pension Service; Northern Ireland claims go through the Northern Ireland Pension Centre instead.
Why is my payment on a different day to someone else’s?
It depends on the last two digits of a National Insurance number, GOV.UK says: 00 to 19 means Monday 20 to 39 Tuesday 40 to 59 Wednesday 60 to 79 Thursday and 80 to 99 Friday.
Does the same rule apply to the old basic State Pension?
Yes, GOV.UK’s guide to the basic State Pension gives the same National Insurance ranges and payment days.
What if a payment does not arrive?
GOV.UK says a payment might be paid earlier if the normal day is a bank holiday; for other problems, contact the Pension Service, or the Northern Ireland Pension Centre in Northern Ireland.