The state pension is administered and paid by the Pension Service.
Normally, about four months before you reach your State Pension Age (SPA), you
will be sent a retirement pack in the post by the Pension
Service. Included in that pack will be a pension statement
telling you what you will receive and a BR1 claim form.
To claim your State Pension, you should complete the BR1 form
and return it to the Pension Service.
If you do not receive an invitation to claim your state pension
(maybe because the Pension Service does not have your current
address), you should contact their claim line on 0800 731
7898. They will send a retirement pack in the post. Alternatively, you can download a BR1 form from
their website by clicking here.
When claiming your State Pension, the maximum period it can be
backdated for is 12 months. If you are claiming an increase for a
dependant, it cannot be backdated for more than 3 months.
After claiming, you will be sent details on how your state
pension has been calculated and what to do if you do not agree with
how it was calculated.
If you are eligible for a higher rate pension at age 80, you do
not have to claim. The higher rate should be paid
automatically.
Deferring
You do not have to claim your State Pension at your SPA.
You can choose to defer payment.
If you decide not to claim your State Pension, you can receive a
pension at a higher rate at the time you eventually do decide to
claim. If you put off claiming continuously for at least 12 months,
you will also have the option of a lump sum.
You can read more
about State Pension deferral by clicking here.
State Pension Age
The State Pension Age (SPA) is the earliest age you can draw
your State Pension.
Historically, the SPA has been 60 for women and 65 for
men. However, these are changing. Firstly, to bring
women's retirement ages in line with men and then to increase them
for everyone.
Q & A's
To claim your State Pension you will need to complete form BR1.
Normally, about four months before your state pension age, you will
be sent an invitation to make a claim. If you do not receive one
before your SPA, call the Pension Service's claim line on 0800 731
7898 or download a BR1 from the Pension Service's website by clicking here.
The maximum period the state pension can be backdated is 12
months. If you are claiming an increase for a dependant, the
maximum period it can be backdated is 3 months.
