Claiming Your State Pension

A State Pension is paid for by national insurance contributions from people currently working, provided by the Government. If you want advice on claiming your Private Pension, visit our Private Pension page > 

There are some criteria to meet in order to claim your State Pension, and the age in which you can claim can change too. To check your eligibility, check the GOV.UK website. 

If you need information about claiming your private pension visit our private pension guidance page >

You’ll receive a letter inviting you to make a claim no later than two months before you reach State Pension age.

Once you get the letter, you can put in a claim for your State Pension online. This is the quickest way to receive your pension. Or, you can also:

• print off the State Pension claim form, fill in and post to the Pension Service
• phone the Pension Service to get a State Pension claim form posted to you

You may also be entitled to extra payouts

Money Saving Expert found that more than 230,000 women are thought to have been underpaid their state pension and could be due a payout. The average amount due is more than £6,000. They advise that married women who hit state pension age before April 2016, including widows and divorcees – and the over-80s, whether married or not – should check if they're owed. 

To find out more, visit Money Saving Expert 

Request a form

Telephone: 0800 731 7898 (Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm (except public holidays)
Welsh language: 0800 731 7936 (Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm (except public holidays)

Technical help with the online service

Telephone: 0800 169 0154 (Monday to Friday, 8am - 5pm (except public holidays)
Textphone: 0800 169 0254 (Monday to Friday, 8am - 5pm (except public holidays)

Further support available

Contact Pension Service to:

• get information/ask any questions about your State Pension
• report a change in your circumstances, such as a change to any personal details
• report a death

Telephone: 0800 731 0469 (Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm (except public holidays)
Welsh language: 0800 731 0453 (Monday to Friday, 8am - 6pm (except public holidays)

Or write to them at the below address:

The Pension Service
Post Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1AF

• Citizens Advice Debt and Money department (England) provide a wealth of information and advice about money and pensions
  Citizens Advice Debt and Money department (Wales)
  Citizens Advice Debt and Money department (Scotland)
  
  
• MoneyHelper have a Pension Wise scheme that offer impartial pensions guidance through a free specialist pension appointment. Either book online or call 0800 138 3944 (Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm excluding bank holidays.

Page last updated: January 2023.