The state pension doesn’t start automatically — you need to claim it. Here’s exactly how to do it.
When to Claim
Timing Your Claim
| Timing | What Happens |
|---|
| 4 months before SPA | Ideal time to start claim |
| 2 months before SPA | DWP sends invitation letter |
| After your start date | First payment within 5 weeks of the date you choose |
| After SPA | Can still claim — may get backdated |
If You Don’t Claim
| Situation | Result |
|---|
| Don’t claim at SPA | Automatically defer |
| Defer for a year | Pension increases by 5.8% |
| Never claim | Never receive it |
How to Claim Online
Step-by-Step Online Process
Step 1: Go to gov.uk/get-state-pension
Click “Claim State Pension online.”
Step 2: Verify your identity
| Method | Process |
|---|
| Government Gateway | Enter existing login |
| No account | Create one during process |
| GOV.UK One Login | Alternative way to sign in and prove your identity |
Step 3: Answer questions about:
| Topic | Information Needed |
|---|
| Personal details | Name, date of birth, address |
| National Insurance number | 2 letters + 6 numbers + 1 letter |
| Marital status | Single, married, widowed, divorced |
| Bank details | Sort code, account number |
| Time abroad | Countries, dates, whether you worked |
| Other pensions | Any benefits you receive |
Step 4: Submit and receive confirmation
You’ll get a confirmation number and email.
How Long It Takes
| Activity | Time |
|---|
| First payment | No later than 5 weeks after the start date you choose (if you claim in time) |
How to Claim by Phone
Phone Claim Process
| Detail | Information |
|---|
| Number to call | 0800 731 7898 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm |
| Call cost | Free from UK landlines and mobiles |
| Relay UK | 18001 then 0800 731 7898 |
What happens on the call:
- Answer security questions
- Provide personal details
- Confirm bank details
- Discuss your NI record
- Get confirmation reference
Calling from Abroad
| Calling From | Number to Use |
|---|
| Outside UK | +44 191 218 7777 |
| Monday-Friday | 8am to 6pm UK time |
How to Claim by Post
GOV.UK doesn’t publish a downloadable claim form or name a specific form number for a postal claim from inside the UK — you have to phone the Pension Service and ask them to post one to you. If you’re overseas, the International Pension Centre can send an overseas claim form instead.
How to get the form:
- Phone the Pension Service on 0800 731 7898 (or the International Pension Centre on +44 191 218 7777 from abroad) and ask for a State Pension claim form
- They’ll post it to you
- Complete and return it
Where to send it: use the address printed on your form. GOV.UK’s Get your State Pension page gives:
Pension Service 8
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV98 1AF
GOV.UK’s new State Pension guide gives a freepost address instead: Freepost DWP Pensions Service 3 (no stamp or postcode needed).
Timing for Postal Claims
GOV.UK doesn’t publish how long a postal claim takes, so ask for the form well before your State Pension age: you can claim up to 4 months before. Your first payment will be no later than 5 weeks after the start date you choose.
| Information | Where to Find It |
|---|
| National Insurance number | Payslip, P60, HMRC letters, NI card |
| Bank/building society details | Debit card, statement, online banking |
| Address history | If moved in last 5 years |
| Partner’s details | If married/civil partner |
| Situation | Information Needed |
|---|
| Worked abroad | Country, employer, dates |
| Lived abroad | Country, dates |
| Divorced | Date of divorce, ex-spouse details |
| Widowed | Date of death, spouse’s NI number |
| Receiving benefits | Which benefits, reference numbers |
If You Don’t Know Your NI Number
| Option | How |
|---|
| Check documents | P60, payslip, tax letter |
| Check online | gov.uk/find-national-insurance-number |
| Call HMRC | 0300 200 3500 |
| Request replacement | gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number |
Payment Options
How You Can Be Paid
| Method | Availability |
|---|
| Bank account | Standard option |
| Building society account | Must accept direct payment |
| Someone else’s account | If you can’t manage your own |
Note: Post Office card accounts closed in 2022. If you can’t open a bank account, the Payment Exception Service lets you collect payments without one.
Payment Frequency
| Option | When You’re Paid |
|---|
| Every 4 weeks | Standard payment cycle |
| Every 13 weeks | An option if you live abroad |
Your Payment Day
| NI Number Ends In | Usual Payment Day |
|---|
| 00-19 | Monday |
| 20-39 | Tuesday |
| 40-59 | Wednesday |
| 60-79 | Thursday |
| 80-99 | Friday |
After You Claim
What Happens Next
| Timeline | Event |
|---|
| Immediately | Receive confirmation number |
| Within a few weeks | DWP processes claim |
| Before SPA | Receive confirmation letter |
| Within 5 weeks of your start date | First payment made |
Your Confirmation Letter
The letter will confirm:
- Your weekly state pension amount
- Your payment dates
- How your pension was calculated
- What to do if you disagree
If You Disagree with the Amount
| Action | How |
|---|
| Ask for explanation | Write to DWP or call |
| Request review | Mandatory reconsideration |
| Appeal | To tribunal if needed |
Special Circumstances
Claiming If You Live Abroad
| Situation | Process |
|---|
| EU/EEA/Switzerland | Claim via UK or local authority |
| Other countries | Claim via UK |
| Getting UK pension abroad | Paid into a UK account, or an overseas account in local currency (0.39% conversion charge) |
Frozen pensions:
| Country | Pension Frozen? |
|---|
| EU/EEA countries | No — increases applied |
| USA, Philippines | No — increases applied |
| Australia, Canada | Yes — frozen at date you left |
| Other countries | Check with DWP |
If You Were Married But Are Now Divorced
| Situation | How It Affects Claim |
|---|
| Before 2016 (basic) | May inherit ex’s NI contributions |
| After 2016 (new) | Generally no effect |
| Substitution | Your record may improve |
If You Are Widowed
| Timing of Death | Effect on Your Pension |
|---|
| Before both reached SPA | May inherit some NI contributions |
| After spouse reached SPA | May inherit some additional pension |
| Spouse deferred | May inherit some deferred amount |
Common Questions
Can I Backdate My Claim?
| Situation | Backdating |
|---|
| New State Pension | Up to 12 months |
| Basic State Pension | Up to 12 months |
What If I Keep Working?
| Question | Answer |
|---|
| Do I have to retire? | No — state pension isn’t affected by working |
| Will I pay NI? | No, if over SPA |
| Will I pay income tax? | Yes, if income exceeds allowance |
Can I Stop My Claim After Starting?
| Situation | Option |
|---|
| Change your mind | Can defer after claiming |
| Asked to repay overpayment | Only in specific circumstances |
| Move abroad | Continue receiving (may be frozen) |
Checklist Before Claiming
Have Everything Ready
| ☐ | Item |
|---|
| ☐ | National Insurance number |
| ☐ | Bank account details |
| ☐ | National Insurance record checked |
| ☐ | Gaps filled (if buying NI years) |
| ☐ | Forecast reviewed |
| ☐ | Defer vs claim decision made |
| ☐ | Partner details (if applicable) |
| ☐ | Overseas work/living details |
Help and Support
If You Need Help Claiming
| Service | Contact |
|---|
| Pension Service | 0800 731 7898 |
| Citizens Advice | citizensadvice.org.uk |
| Age UK | 0800 169 6565 |
| DWP visiting service | For those who can’t travel |
If You Have a Complaint
| Stage | Process |
|---|
| 1. Complain to DWP | Write or call |
| 2. Independent Case Examiner | If DWP’s complaints team hasn’t resolved it |
| 3. Ombudsman | If still unsatisfied |
When the State Pension Is Paid
The State Pension is usually paid every four weeks in arrears, into your bank account. Your payment day depends on the last two digits of your National Insurance number:
| Last two digits | Payment day |
|---|
| 00 to 19 | Monday |
| 20 to 39 | Tuesday |
| 40 to 59 | Wednesday |
| 60 to 79 | Thursday |
| 80 to 99 | Friday |
Each April’s new rate applies from the start of the tax year, so your first payment at the new rate depends on where your four-week cycle falls. Your award letter gives your exact dates.
Working Past State Pension Age
Key Rules for Working After State Pension Age
| Rule | Details |
|---|
| Can you work and claim state pension? | Yes, no earnings limit or restrictions |
| Do you pay income tax? | Yes, state pension is taxable income |
| Do you pay employee NI? | No: exempt after State Pension age |
| Does your employer pay NI? | Yes, employer NI still applies |
| Does working increase your state pension? | No: qualifying years stop at State Pension age (deferring is the only way) |
| Can you choose to defer instead? | Yes, see our deferral guide |
How Tax Works When You’re Working and Claiming
State pension is paid gross (no tax deducted). Instead, HMRC adjusts your employment tax code to collect tax on both your earnings and state pension through your wages.
Example: £15,000 Job + Full State Pension
| Income source | Annual amount |
|---|
| Employment earnings | £15,000 |
| New State Pension | £12,547.60 |
| Total income | £27,547.60 |
| Tax calculation | Amount |
|---|
| Personal Allowance | £12,570 |
| Taxable income | £14,977.60 |
| Income tax at 20% | £2,995.52 |
| Employee NI | £0 (exempt) |
| Total take home | £24,552.08 |
Because the full State Pension (£12,547.60) uses almost all of your £12,570 Personal Allowance, the tax code on your job would drop to something like 2L, so almost all your wages are taxed. A K code only appears if your State Pension (with any extra, such as a protected payment) is more than your Personal Allowance.
Common Tax Codes for Pensioners Working
| Situation | Likely tax code | What it means |
|---|
| Job + full new State Pension | A small L code (e.g. 2L) | The pension uses almost all your allowance; the job is taxed on nearly everything |
| State Pension above your Personal Allowance (e.g. with a protected payment) | K code | Extra tax collected from wages to cover tax on the pension |
| Multiple jobs + pension | Various | HMRC splits allowance across sources |
| Job only, deferring pension | 1257L | Standard code |
If your tax code looks wrong, contact HMRC on 0300 200 3300. Incorrect codes are common when you start claiming pension alongside employment.
The National Insurance Advantage
The biggest financial benefit of working past State Pension age is the NI exemption:
| Salary | Employee NI (under SP age) | Employee NI (over SP age) | Annual saving |
|---|
| £15,000 | £194 | £0 | £194 |
| £20,000 | £594 | £0 | £594 |
| £25,000 | £994 | £0 | £994 |
| £30,000 | £1,394 | £0 | £1,394 |
| £40,000 | £2,194 | £0 | £2,194 |
This NI saving applies regardless of whether you’re claiming your state pension or deferring it. It applies from when you reach State Pension age.
Your employer still pays 15% employer NI on your earnings above £5,000.
Take Home Pay Comparison: Working at 50 vs 68
On a £25,000 salary, comparing a 50-year-old employee with a 68-year-old claiming full state pension:
| Age 50 (no pension) | Age 68 (with state pension) |
|---|
| Salary | £25,000 | £25,000 |
| State Pension | £0 | £12,547.60 |
| Total income | £25,000 | £37,547.60 |
| Income tax | £2,486 | £4,995.52 |
| Employee NI | £994 | £0 |
| Total take home | £21,520 | £32,552.08 |
The 68-year-old takes home about £11,032 more: £12,547.60 from the State Pension, minus £2,509.52 extra tax, plus £994 NI saved.
Telling Your Employer You’ve Reached State Pension Age
Your employer needs to know so payroll stops deducting your National Insurance. Show them proof of your age: your birth certificate or passport (or a certificate of age exception, CA4140, if you already have one; HMRC no longer issues them). Your employer keeps paying employer National Insurance on your earnings. Check your first payslip after that date: if National Insurance is still being taken, ask your employer to correct it, and if the tax year has ended, you can claim the overpayment back from HMRC.
If you’re self-employed, Class 2 contributions stop being treated as paid from your State Pension age, but Class 4 contributions carry on for the rest of that tax year and stop from the following 6 April.
Workplace Pensions and Employment Rights After State Pension Age
- Auto-enrolment stops. Employers only have to auto-enrol workers under State Pension age. If you’re between State Pension age and 75 you can still ask to join your employer’s scheme, and if you earn enough your employer has to pay in too.
- Tax relief continues until 75. You get tax relief on pension contributions up to age 75, within the usual limits.
- No forced retirement. The default retirement age was abolished in 2011, so an employer can’t make you retire because of your age unless it can objectively justify it. You keep the same rights as any other employee, including unfair dismissal protection, redundancy pay, holiday and the minimum wage.
| When you work | Does more work help your State Pension? |
|---|
| Before State Pension age, under 35 qualifying years | Yes: each year adds about £6.89 a week (and gets you to the 10-year minimum if you’re short) |
| Before State Pension age, 35+ qualifying years | Usually no (unless you were contracted out) |
| After State Pension age | No: no NI and no further qualifying years |
| After State Pension age, deferring | Yes, through the deferral increase (just under 5.8% a year), not your NI record |
Once you reach State Pension age, the only way working longer can increase your State Pension is by deferring it.
Self-Employment After State Pension Age
Self-employed workers past State Pension age:
| Obligation | Required? |
|---|
| Class 2 NI | No: exempt after SP age (and voluntary-only for everyone since April 2024) |
| Class 4 NI | No, from the 6 April after you reach State Pension age (it still applies for the rest of that tax year) |
| Income tax | Yes, same as employees |
| Self Assessment | Yes, if self-employed income requires it |
The NI savings for self-employed workers are also significant:
| Self-employed profit | Class 4 NI (under SP age) | NI (over SP age) | Saving |
|---|
| £30,000 | £1,046: (£30,000 − £12,570) × 6% | £0 | £1,046 |
| £50,000 | £2,246: (£50,000 − £12,570) × 6% | £0 | £2,246 |
Class 2 NI has been voluntary since April 2024: for most self-employed people with profits above the small profits threshold, it’s treated as automatically paid to protect your NI record, without you actually having to pay it. So it isn’t a compulsory pre-State-Pension-age cost, and the savings above are Class 4 only, calculated at the current 6% rate on profits between £12,570 and £50,270.
Should You Claim or Defer While Working?
| Your situation | Recommendation |
|---|
| Earning well under £12,570 | Claim: your earnings and pension share one Personal Allowance, so part of the pension is taxed at 20% but you keep most of it |
| Earning £12,570 to about £37,722 | Either: the pension is taxed at 20%. Deferring adds just under 5.8% a year |
| Earning about £37,722 to £50,270 | Consider deferral: some of the pension would be taxed at 40% |
| Earning £50,270+ | Consider deferral: pension would be taxed at 40% |
| Earning £100,000+ | Strongly consider deferral: pension could trigger 60% effective rate |
| Need the money | Claim, don’t defer if you need income |
See our full State Pension Deferral guide for break-even calculations.