Archive Website of the UK government

When to claim your State Pension

You can claim your State Pension when you reach your State Pension age. Not everyone has the same State Pension age so you need to find out what yours is.

• Calculating your State Pension age

Four months before you reach your State Pension age, The Pension Service will write to you. The letter will tell you if you need to claim your State Pension. If you're getting certain social security benefits you may not need to make a claim.

How to claim your State Pension

The most convenient way to claim your State Pension is online. This is a secure protected service that is available 24 hours a day. It allows you to make your claim at your own pace and you can save your claim at any time and return to it later.

You can claim your State Pension online if:

• you live in England, Scotland or Wales
• you have received your letter from The Pension Service
  

How to claim your State Pension if you live in Northern Ireland or abroad.

• Apply for a State Pension in Northern Ireland Opens new window

• State Pension for people living abroad Opens new window

If you are getting certain social security benefits you may not need to make a claim.

If you are unable to claim State Pension online you can contact the State Pension Claim line:

Telephone: 0800 731 7898
Textphone: 0800 731 7339

Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm (except public holidays)

You can also download the State Pension claim form, print it out, then complete and send it to your local Pension Centre. But this may take more time than using the phone.

• Download 'State Pension claim form (BR1)' (PDF, 210K)

• Help with PDF files

• The cost of contacting 08 and 03 telephone numbers

Welsh speaking customers

Welsh speaking customers living in Wales can access a Welsh version of the online claim if you use the Welsh (Welsh language) link at the top of this page, or you can:

• ring the State Pension claim line on 0800 731 7936 (8.00 am to 8.00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays)
• use the textphone service on 0800 731 7013 if you have speech or hearing difficulties (8.00 am to 8.00 pm, Monday to Friday, except public holidays)
  

What to do if you are not contacted about your State Pension

If you have not heard from The Pension Service when you are three months from your State Pension age then you'll need to contact The Pension Service on 0800 731 7898. Textphone: 0800 731 7339, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm (except public holidays).

Checklist of what you need when you make your claim

You will need the following to hand when you make a claim:

• your National Insurance number
• your current address and postcode, plus your last two addresses
• your husband’s, wife’s or civil partner’s details, if you are married or you’re in a civil partnership, including their National Insurance number, if possible
• the date of your marriage/civil partnership
• relevant details if you’re divorced or widowed or your civil partnership has been dissolved or you’re a surviving civil partner
• details of any social security benefits or entitlements that you or your husband, wife or civil partner are getting or waiting to hear about
• your social security number and relevant dates you were outside the UK - if you have ever lived or worked outside the UK
• details of the account you wish to have your State Pension paid directly into

All the information you give is confidential. To ensure a high standard of service, all phone calls are recorded for security, training and quality purposes.

Qualifying for a basic State Pension

Your basic State Pension is based on your National Insurance contributions (NICs).

Find out how you qualify for your basic State Pension.

• Qualifying for a basic State Pension

How much State Pension you’ll get

To get an estimate of how much State Pension you may get, see ‘Getting a State Pension forecast’.

• Getting a State Pension forecast

How the State Pension is paid

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into the account of your choice, for example your bank account. This is the safest, most convenient and efficient method of payment.

If you're registered blind or need a carer to collect your money, you can nominate a helper to collect your pension or benefit for you.

• Nominating a helper to collect benefits or a pension for you

• How benefits and pensions are paid (money, tax and benefits section)

Putting off claiming your State Pension until later

You don't have to claim your State Pension as soon as you reach State Pension age.

You may be able to put off (defer) claiming until later. You may either get extra weekly State Pension on top of your usual weekly State Pension or a one-off taxable lump sum payment. See ‘State Pension deferral’ to find out more.

• State Pension deferral

What to do if your circumstances change

You should tell The Pension Service if you:

• move home
• go into or come out of hospital
• go outside the UK to live or for a long visit
• go into a care home

• Report your change of address, bank details or other circumstances to The Pension Service

Going into hospital

Your basic State Pension isn't affected by a stay in hospital. But if you get Pension Credit that may go down if you are in hospital for more than four weeks.

More useful links

• Changes to the State Pension from 6 April 2023

• State Pension profiler

• Just about to retire - what you need to do

• More about working part-time after you retire

• Order leaflets from The Pension Service online Opens new window

• Order accessible leaflets from The Pension Service

Useful contacts

• Retirement contacts

• Financial advice and support contacts

• Over 50s contacts