The Department for Work and Pensions has made the State Pension Debits and Credits (Revaluation) Order 2025 (SI 2025/1220), which updates the uplift applied to divorce‑related state pension debits and credits so they keep pace with price changes. The instrument was made on 25 November 2025 and laid before Parliament on 27 November 2025. It applies across Great Britain.
Commencement is staged. The Order comes into force on 22 December 2025 solely for making an award on an advance claim to a state pension for people who reach pensionable age on or after 7 April 2026, and on 6 April 2026 for all other purposes. For these purposes “state pension” means a pension under Part 1 of the Pensions Act 2014.
The legal basis is the annual review of the general level of prices required by section 148AD of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. Where the review shows debits or credits have not maintained their value, the Secretary of State must direct an increase by a specified percentage.
How the uplift is applied is set out in the Pensions Act 2014. Under paragraph 3 of Schedule 8 (credits) and paragraph 3 of Schedule 10 (debits), the “appropriate revaluation percentage” is the percentage specified for the relevant tax year by the last section 148AD order to come into force before the person reaches pensionable age.
Who is affected. The measure covers “new state scheme” pension credits and debits that arise from pension sharing on divorce or civil partnership dissolution. Section 13 of the Pensions Act 2014 governs entitlement to a state pension based on a credit; section 14 governs the reduction where a person is subject to a debit. These link to credits and debits created under section 49A of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999.
The Schedule to the 2025 Order lists percentage increases by tax year (from 2016–17 onwards). Practitioners should use the percentage for the tax year in which the debit or credit was created; the revaluation applied at award is the latest order in force before pensionable age. As context, the 2023 Order showed cumulative percentages ranging from 31.9% (2016–17) to 6.7% (2023–24).
Timing for awards and advance claims. The specific 22 December 2025 commencement ensures that awards made on advance claims for people reaching pensionable age on or after 7 April 2026 reflect the new schedule. Regulation 15(1) of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 permits advance claims for state pension, and pensionable age is determined by rules in Schedule 4 to the Pensions Act 1995.
Geographical scope. The Order extends to England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland legislates separately for equivalent revaluation; for example, the Department for Communities made a comparable order in 2024, and a 2025 instrument is expected separately in due course.
Implementation notes. DWP indicates no full impact assessment has been produced as no, or no significant, impact is foreseen. The instrument is signed by Parliamentary Under‑Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Torsten Bell, consistent with his ministerial portfolio.