Martin Lewis has broken down the state pension rise that will come into effect in April 2025 and why it won't "reflect the reality on the ground for many".

The founder of the MoneySavingExper (MSE) website has made a statement following the news that UK inflation had fallen to 1.7% today (Wednesday, October 16), which is the lowest rate in three-and-a-half years.

Inflation is one of the factors that impacts the rise in state pensions in what is known as the triple lock.

Under that arrangement, the state pension goes up each year by either 2.5%, inflation, or earnings growth - whichever is the highest figure, BBC News reports.

This time around, the latest data has confirmed the highest is earnings growth - at 4.1%.

They add: "The full, new flat-rate state pension (for those who reached state pension age after April 2016) is expected to increase to £230.30 a week. That will take it to £11,975 a year, a rise of £473 compared with now."

However, Martin Lewis has explained that this figure will not apply to everyone.

Martin Lewis breaks down April 2025 state pension rise

Writing on the MSE website, Lewis explained: "While most headlines, and Government communications, will likely report next year's State Pension is to rise by £475 today – nearly double what an inflation increase would be – this doesn't reflect the reality on the ground for many.

"That figure is for the full – new – state pension, which only applies to the 1 in 4 who hit state pension age after 6 April 2016.

"The majority are still on its predecessor, the old state pension, which is lower, and so the 4.1% rise of that is the smaller figure: £362.65.

"Plus those figures only apply to those who get the full state pension, which comes from having enough National Insurance (NI) years – usually around 35 (though it varies widely).

"Many, especially those on lower incomes don't have their full years, so get a lower pension and therefore their rise will be smaller still.

"This is important to understand amidst the debate about the ending of a universal £200 to £300 pensioner Winter Fuel Payment, as most state pensioners get a smaller rise than the £474 most commonly quoted, and of course the rise won't hit until after winter anyway."

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Lewis emphasised the importance of claiming for Pension Credit, which is a state pension income top-up that is "so important for many on the lowest incomes".

He added: "The biggest unanswered question, that I desperately hope will be addressed in the budget, is about the roughly 800,000 of the very poorest pensioners who are eligible for Pension Credit but don't claim it.

"They are the most vulnerable this winter, very few get the full state pension, so there is a dire protection gap that needs closing."