Pensioners are encouraged to read up on four key changes coming into effect from this month.

Millions of older Britons will benefit in April as their payments increase. Meanwhile there are other policy changes people may need to act on.

From a state pension increase to a scrapped allowance to encourage people to work, there are plenty of changes to keep track of.

Luckily, Express.co.uk has put together all the key information you need to know for this month:

State pension increase

State pension payments have increased 8.5 percent from the start of the new tax year, on April 6.

This means the full new state pension is now £221.20 a week, or £884.80 for each four-week pay period.

The full basic state pension has increased to £169.50 a week, or £678 for each pay period.

Pension Credit increase

Pension Credit claimants are also getting a boost to their payments with the benefit increasing 6.7 percent from April 8, along with other benefits.

The weekly top up for single claimants is now up to £218.15 a week while the couples top up is £332.95 a week.

Claimants can get extra payments such as if they have a severe disability or if they care for another adult.

Pensions lifetime allowance (LTA) scrapped

The pensions lifetime allowance, which limited how much a person can save into their pensions at £1,073,100, was scrapped at the turn of the tax year.

Under the new rules, income and lump sums from pensions valued above the LTA will be subject to income tax at the person’s marginal rate.

Steven Cameron, pensions director at Aegon, previously told Express.co.uk that individuals should check how they will be affected by the change.

He said: “There are extremely complex transitional arrangements and the tax authorities are still communicating the details.

“So although the lifetime allowance has been abolished, the details of what’s replaced that are not all finalised.

“Anyone who is concerned about this really should seek advice. Hopefully, the abolition will work in their favour but there’s lots of bear traps along the way.”

State pension top-up system delay

A new online state pension top-up scheme has been delayed as it was supposed to be up and running by the turn of the tax year.

The tool will allow a person to check how much state pension they are on track to receive and if they have any missing National Insurance contributions.

The Government said the tool will launch soon after the standard update to the National Insurance system is completed.

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