How to Claim Your State Pension When You Reach State Pension Age

Your State Pension does not start automatically

Reaching State Pension age does not automatically trigger payment. The official guidance is explicit that you must make a claim.

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, the new State Pension can be claimed online, by phone or by post. Northern Ireland has its own claim service, while people living abroad use the International Pension Centre or international claim process.

State Pension age is changing during 2026

The legislated State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028. People born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961 reach State Pension age between 66 years and 1 month and 66 years and 11 months, depending on date of birth; people born from 6 March 1961 to 5 April 1977 reach it at 67 under the current timetable.

Because of this transition, use the official State Pension age checker for your own date of birth instead of relying on a general age figure.

Check whether your National Insurance record qualifies

For the new State Pension, you normally need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to receive any payment. Qualifying years can come from National Insurance contributions, National Insurance credits or voluntary contributions.

If your National Insurance record began after April 2016, 35 qualifying years are normally needed for the full new State Pension. People with earlier National Insurance histories can have a different calculation, particularly if they were contracted out before 2016.

The full new State Pension rate for 2026 to 2027 is £241.30 a week, but your actual amount depends on your own National Insurance record and transitional rules.

Prepare your personal, banking and overseas details

The Pension Service asks for information relevant to your identity, payment and pension history. Have the following ready before you start:

• Your bank or building society details.
• The date of your most recent marriage, civil partnership or divorce.
• The dates of periods when you lived or worked outside the UK.
• Any social-security numbers you have for foreign state pension schemes.
• Your online invitation code if you are using the digital service.

Periods spent living or working overseas are important because they can affect UK entitlement and may also identify a possible state pension from another country.

Use the invitation code for the online claim

If you apply online, you need the invitation code from the letter about getting your State Pension.

If the invitation letter has not arrived and you are within 3 months of State Pension age, the official service allows you to request an invitation code. Do not rely on unofficial messages asking for banking information: government guidance warns pension claimants about scams seeking bank details through unsolicited messages.

Phone or postal claims are available if you do not apply online

If you will reach State Pension age within the next 4 months, you can claim by calling the Pension Service on 0800 731 7898. The line is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm, except public holidays.

If you want a paper claim, phone the Pension Service and ask for the State Pension claim form to be sent to you. Once completed, send it to Freepost DWP Pensions Service 3. GOV.UK says not to add anything else to that Freepost address; no postcode or stamp is needed.

Northern Ireland uses its own Pension Centre service

If you live in Northern Ireland, follow the nidirect State Pension process rather than the Great Britain claim route. Northern Ireland allows claims online, by telephone and by post through the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

The Northern Ireland online service asks for the same core information, including recent marriage, civil partnership or divorce details, periods spent living or working abroad, banking details and the invitation code from your State Pension letter.

Use the International Pension Centre when you live overseas

If you live outside the UK, including the Channel Islands, the ordinary Great Britain claim route does not apply. You must be within 4 months of State Pension age to make an overseas claim and can contact the International Pension Centre or submit the official international State Pension claim form.

Your UK State Pension can be paid into a qualifying UK account or an account in the country where you live. If you use an overseas account, banking details can include an IBAN, BIC or the local bank-code and account information required for that country.

Tell the Pension Service about overseas work and contributions

When you claim, disclose periods when you lived or worked abroad. If you lived or worked in an EEA country or Switzerland, the International Pension Centre can pass relevant claim information to the foreign pension scheme and that authority will decide whether you qualify under its rules.

For other countries, GOV.UK may direct you to contact the pension authority in the last relevant country yourself. Foreign contribution periods can also affect whether you satisfy the minimum qualification rules for UK State Pension in certain circumstances.

Your first payment follows the start date you choose

During the claim you will be asked when you want your State Pension to start. For the new State Pension, the first payment will be no later than 5 weeks after the date you choose.

After that, the new State Pension is usually paid every 4 weeks into your nominated account. Your regular payment weekday is determined by the final two digits of your National Insurance number.

Retirement from work is not required to claim

You can claim State Pension even if you continue working. Reaching State Pension age and claiming the pension do not require you to stop employment or self-employment.

If you intentionally postpone your claim, this is called deferring your State Pension. Deferral can increase the amount you later receive, so do not simply ignore the invitation letter unless delaying the claim is a deliberate decision you have considered.

Low retirement income may qualify for Pension Credit

State Pension and Pension Credit are separate. If your retirement income is low, check whether you can also claim Pension Credit on a low income in retirement. Pension Credit has its own income, savings and eligibility rules.

Tell the Pension Service when relevant circumstances change

Once you receive State Pension, relevant changes must be reported. These include changing your UK address or bank details, moving abroad permanently, moving into residential care, marriage or civil partnership, divorce or dissolution, bereavement and certain changes involving benefits or legal custody.

If you live abroad, report relevant changes to the International Pension Centre rather than the domestic Pension Service.

Avoid delaying or using the wrong claim route

• Do not assume State Pension starts automatically when you reach State Pension age.
• Do not assume everyone reaches State Pension age at 66 in 2026; the age is being phased upwards.
• For an online claim, make sure you have the official invitation code.
• If the invitation letter has not arrived, request a code once you are within 3 months of State Pension age.
• Include periods when you lived or worked abroad and any relevant foreign social-security numbers.
• Use the Northern Ireland route if you live in Northern Ireland and the International Pension Centre route if you live abroad.
• Do not ignore the claim simply because you continue working; employment does not prevent a State Pension claim.
• If you intend to defer, understand that this is a separate choice from simply forgetting to claim.