Contact the Pension Service to find out about State Pension eligibility, claims, payments, and complaints. You can also report a change of circumstances, for example, if you’ve changed your address.
So what exactly is the State Pension?
The Pension Service is a part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the UK that is responsible for administering the State Pension and other pension benefits. The Pension Service provides information and support to individuals who are approaching retirement age or who are already receiving a pension, as well as their families and caregivers.
Some of the services offered by the Pension Service include:
Providing information about the State Pension and other pension benefits, including eligibility criteria, payment amounts, and how to apply.
Helping individuals plan for retirement, including providing information on pension schemes, saving for retirement, and options for accessing pension funds.
Processing pension applications and payments, including handling changes to personal information, such as address or bank details.
Providing support and assistance to individuals who are experiencing financial difficulties or who are unable to manage their own pension affairs due to illness or disability.
If you have questions or need assistance with your pension or other benefits, you can contact the Pension Service directly by phone or online, as outlined in my previous response.
The new State Pension is a regular payment from Government that most people can claim in later life. You can claim the new State Pension at the State Pension age if you have at least 10 years of National Insurance contributions and are a man born on or after 6 April 1951 or a woman born on or after 6 April 1953.
If you were born before any of these dates you will probably only get the basic State Pension instead.
When can you claim my new State Pension?
You can claim your State Pension up to four months before you reach the State Pension age. However, it doesn't start being paid until you reach the State Pension age. If you don't claim it at the State Pension age but at a later date, you can request backdating of your State Pension by a maximum of 12 months.
How much State Pension will you get?
The full rate of the new State Pension will be £185.15 per week (in 2022/23) but what you will get could be more or less, depending on your National Insurance (NI) record.
You can check how much State Pension you could get on the government website or, you can request a paper statement if you prefer.
Pension Service Telephone Numbers
Telephone: 0800 731 7898 or Textphone: 0800 731 7339
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone) 18001 then 0800 731 7898
Telephone: 0800 169 0154 or Textphone: 0800 169 0254
Telephone: 0800 731 0469 or Textphone: 0800 731 0464
