State Pension: How do I claim my State Pension?
STATE PENSIONS are a lifeline for many, topping up any retirement funds for those who have reached State Pension age. But how do I claim my State Pension?
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State Pensions were given a boost in April, rising 3.9 percent under the triple lock system. Those of State Pension age and on the New State Pension have seen their weekly funds rise to £175 from 6 April 2020, while those on the Basic State Pension get an increased weekly income of £134.
How can you claim your State Pension?
Claiming your State Pension depends on the type of pension you are eligible for.
This is based on your age - there is more on this below.
You also do not have to claim your State Pension when you reach State Pension age, if you are still working or want to put off payments you can defer.
Below both the basic State Pension and new State Pension claiming methods are detailed.
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Basic State Pension
You’re eligible for the basic State Pension if you were born before:
- 6 April 1951 if you’re a man
- 6 April 1953 if you’re a woman
If you were born on or after these dates you must claim the new State Pension.
To get the full basic State Pension you will need a total of 30 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits.
This means you were either:
- working and paying National Insurance
- getting National Insurance Credits, for example for unemployment, sickness or as a parent or carer
- paying voluntary National Insurance contributions
If you have fewer than 30 qualifying years, your basic State Pension will be less than £134.25 per week but you may be able to top up by paying voluntary National Insurance contributions.
You will not get your State Pension automatically - you have to claim it.
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There are three ways to claim the basic State Pension:
- over the phone
- download the State Pension claim form and send it to your local pension centre
- claim from abroad including the Channel Islands
To download the State Pension claim form, click here to go to the Gov.uk website.
State Pension claim line numbers are:
- Telephone: 0800 731 7898
- Textphone: 0800 731 7339
- Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 7898
- Welsh language: 0800 731 7936
- Welsh textphone: 0800 731 7339
These phone lines are available Monday to Friday, from 9.30am to 3.30pm, except on public holidays.
New State Pension
You are eligible for the new State Pension if you are:
- a man born on or after 6 April 1951
- a woman born on or after 6 April 1953
You will need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any State Pension. These do not have to be 10 qualifying years in a row.
This means for 10 years at least one of the following applied to you:
- you were working and paid National Insurance contributions
- you were getting National Insurance credits for example if you were unemployed, ill or a parent or carer
- you were paying voluntary National Insurance contributions
Those of State Pension age do not get the new State Pension automatically - you have to claim it.
You should get a letter around two months before you reach State Pension age, telling you what to do.
If you have not received your invitation letter, but are within four months of reaching your State Pension age you can still make a claim.
The quickest way to get your State Pension is to apply online.
You can apply online using the Gov.uk form here.
You can also apply by phone, or by downloading the State Pension form and sending it to your local pension centre