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State Pension

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State Pension gives you a regular income once you reach state pension age. It is based on National Insurance contributions and the amount you get depends on how much you paid in. 

The age at which you can claim State Pension is changing. It is currently 65 for men. State Pension age for women is gradually increasing from 60 to 65. This affects women born after 5 April 1950. State Pension age for both men and women will be increasing again to at least 68.  

The amount of State Pension you get depends on your National Insurance contributions, and sometimes those of your current or former spouse or civil partner. You may have made contributions from your earnings or have been credited with them by the Government if you were caring for a child or disabled person.

As well as the Basic State Pension, you may get Additional State Pension or Graduated Retirement Benefit, which are based on the amount you earned when working (and therefore the amount you paid through National Insurance).

The State Pension increases every April. The current Government has promised to increase the basic pension by whichever is higher out of consumer price inflation, average earnings or 2.5%. Increases in the Additional pension are usually based on consumer price inflation.

Can I claim it?

  • You won’t normally receive your State Pension automatically on reaching pension age. You need to make a claim. If you haven’t been contacted about claiming your state pension by three months before you are due to reach pension age, call the Pension Service on 0845 300 1084.
  • You can claim your State Pension even if you decide to continue working past State Pension age.
  • You can postpone claiming your State Pension, known as ‘deferring’, and get a higher pension or a lump sum when you do claim.

Related downloads

opens link in new window Download the guide More money in your pocket: a guide to claiming benefits for people over pension age (PDF 3MB)

opens link in new window Download the guide Can I afford to retire? (PDF 956KB)

opens link in new window Download the factsheet on state pensions (PDF, 158KB) 

 

We are grateful for the generous support of Dr Naim Dangoor CBE
and the Exilarch Foundation

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Age UK Advice:
0800 169 6565
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Born in ‘53 or ‘54?

Women's State Pension Age is increasing to 66 by 2020 - 6 years earlier than planned. If you are a woman born in 1953 or 1954, you can help us stop this.

Useful website

  • The Directgov website provides provides details of state pensions‚ including forecasts and how to claim your pension.

Useful information to download

An information guide that covers financial issues you should consider as you approach retirement, as well as how to find the right adviser.

A factsheet that discusses the State Pension and what you are entitled to once you reach retirement age.



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Downloads

What is a download?

A download is a document (like a research report, a leaflet, or an application form) that can be transferred from our website to your computer. You can download a file, view it on your screen, print it, or save it to your computer.

What is a PDF?

PDF stands for ‘portable document format’.

Most downloads on this website are PDFs. We use this format to ensure that the document looks the same on everyone’s computer (website pages, by contrast, appear differently depending on how people have got their computer set up).

How do I download a PDF?

Computers use a program called Adobe Acrobat Reader to download PDFs. If you try clicking on a link to download a PDF and it doesn’t work, you will need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader onto your computer.

How do I install Adobe Acrobat Reader?

The process is quite straightforward and is free.

  1. Go to opens link in new window http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/
  2. Click ‘Download’.
  3. Wait for the window to offer you the option to ‘Run’, then choose this option.
  4. Click ‘Next’.
  5. Click ‘Install’
  6. Wait for the window to offer you the option to ‘Finish’, then choose this option.

How do I change a download?

PDFs cannot be changed. If you need to be able to type into a downloaded document (for example, if we are offering a letter template that you need to put your name on) we will provide it as a Microsoft Word document rather than a PDF. You can then download it, type into it and save it to your computer.

How do I print or save a download?

Downloads will open on your computer in a new browser window.

Inside this window (below all your web browser menus), there will be a toolbar with options for you to print or save the document.

Close the browser window to return to the Age UK website.

Can my screen reader read PDF downloads?

We have made every effort to make our PDFs accessible to screen readers. Here is an overview of your accessibility options available in Acrobat Reader. Please ensure that you have downloaded the latest version of Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Reader website to ensure that they are included in your version of the programme.

You can use Adobe Reader to read a PDF out loud with the following shortcut keys:

  • Read the document: Shift +Ctrl+Y
  • Read the open page only: Shift +Ctrl+V
  • Read to the end of the document: Shift+Ctrl+B
  • Pause: Shift+Ctrl+C
  • Stop Shift+Ctrl+E


You can also convert a PDF into a web page by following these steps:

  • Copy the URL (web address) of the document (right-click on the link and select ‘Save target as’ or ‘Copy link’).
  • Open the Adobe online conversion tool in your browser and paste the URL into the URL box.
  • Tick the HTML box on the Format option and click ‘Convert’.


You can convert a PDF document into a text file for use with other software and hardware such as Braille printers by opening the PDF and choosing ‘Save as text’ from the File menu.

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