Turn2us - to access benefits & grants.

State Retirement Pension

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Who does it help?

State Retirement Pension is money paid to people who have reached state pension age.  State pension age used to be 60 for a woman and 65 for a man, but this is changing for a lot of people.

If you are a woman born on or after 6 April 1950, or a man born on or after 6 April 1959, the age when you can claim your state pension will gradually increase, depending on your date of birth.

You can work out the exact date of your state pension age by using the state pension age calculator (link opens in a new window) on the Directgov website.

You need to have paid enough national insurance contributions to get State Retirement Pension. If you have not paid enough yourself, you might be covered by your husband or wife's or civil partner's contributions. 

You can get State Retirement Pension even if you are still working. 

You can decide not to claim your state pension when you reach state pension age.  This is called deferring your pension.  If you do this, you can either get extra weekly pension when you do claim it or a lump sum plus your weekly pension at the normal rate.

Is it means-tested?

State Retirement Pension does not depend on what other money you have. 

What help does the benefit provide?

State Retirement Pension is money that you can spend as you want. 

It is usually paid directly into your bank or building society or post office account.  You can be paid at a post office in some cases.  It is payable for up to 12 months if you go into hospital.  After 12 months, it is reduced. 
It can also be paid if you go to live abroad.

How much does it pay?

State Retirement Pension is made up of a basic pension and can include more if you have an adult who depends on you financially. Increases are not currently paid for civil partners (unless they look after your children).  The basic State Retirement Pension is £97.65 a week for a single person. If you are over 80 and have not paid enough national insurance contributions, you get £57.05 a week. 

You might get an extra amount called 'additional pension'. This depends on your national insurance contributions. Additional pension is known as state second pension (S2P) and was previously known as 'SERPS' (State Earnings Related Pension).

From 6 April 2002, you accrue additional pension under the state second pension scheme. Any additional pension built up under SERPS will not be lost.

If you are over 80:

• you get a bit more pension, and
• you can get some State Retirement Pension even if you (or your partner) have not paid enough national insurance contributions.

If you are over state pension age, Pension Credit could top up your weekly income to a guaranteed minimum. 

Is it a taxable benefit?

State Retirement Pension is a taxable benefit. It is paid to you without the tax taken off, so you need to tell your tax office when you start getting State Retirement Pension.

How to claim

The Pension Service will usually contact you before you reach your state pension age to explain how to claim State Retirement Pension. 

If this does not happen, contact your local benefits office and ask for form BR1. Or phone the State Pension claimline on: 0800 731 7898. There is a Welsh language line which is: 0800 731 7936. You can also claim online on the Department for Work and Pensions website (link opens in a new window). In Northern Ireland,  you should get in touch with the Social Security Agency (link opens in a new window) at a local benefits office or on 0808 100 2658. Your claim can be taken over the phone.  You will not need a claim form.

In Northern Ireland, you could also claim online (link opens in a new window) – go to the Department for Social Development website.

If you do not want to claim when you reach state pension age, you can claim at any time later.  If you want to claim because you are 80 and you did not qualify before, the Pension Service will usually contact you.  If not, you can ask your local benefits office, the Pension Service or, in Northern Ireland, the Social Security Agency, for form BR2488.

Documents you need

You must give:

• your national insurance number, and
• evidence of who you are, for example, a driving licence or birth certificate, and
• evidence of your age, for example, your birth certificate or passport.

Further help

There are many organisations for older people.  They can give you other information as well as information about State Retirement Pension.  For example, you could phone the Age UK (link opens in a new window) helpline on: 0800 169 6565..

The Citizens Advice (link opens in a new window) website can give you more information about State Retirement Pension.

Directgov, the government website, has more information about State Retirement Pension (link opens in a new window). In Northern Ireland, get more information on State Retirement Pension at the the website of the Department for Social Development (link opens in a new window).

First Stop Advice (link opens in a new window) provides free, independent information and advice about all aspects of care, housing and finance for older people.  

Find an adviser tool.

See the sections on Pensions and Retirement.

Useful links

This information has been produced by Citizens Advice. 

Last updated: 8 June 2010