How to Claim Your State Pension in the UK

You do not get your State Pension automatically, so you need to claim it.

• The date of your most recent marriage, civil partnership or divorce
• The dates of any time you spent living or working abroad
• Your bank or building society details
• Any social security numbers you have for foreign state pension schemes
• The invitation code from the letter about getting your State Pension, if you are applying online

1. If you have not had a letter and you are within three months of reaching State Pension age, request an invitation code so you can apply online.

1. Apply online through the Get your State Pension service on GOV.UK. You will need your invitation code, along with the details listed above. The service is also available in Welsh.

1. If you would rather claim by phone, call the Pension Service. You can do this if you will reach State Pension age in the next four months.

1. If you want to claim by post, phone the Pension Service to ask for a State Pension claim form to be posted to you.

1. Send your completed form to Freepost DWP Pensions Service 3. Write nothing on the envelope except the freepost address. You do not need a postcode or a stamp.

1. If you have lived or worked in a European Economic Area country or Switzerland, you will be sent a claim form when you apply. The International Pension Centre will send your claim to state pension schemes in the countries you lived or worked in, and those schemes will contact you if you are eligible. You do not need to make separate claims to them.

1. If you want to claim a state pension from any other country, contact the pension authority in the last country you lived or worked in. Contact the International Pension Centre if you need help with your claim.

You can claim your State Pension even if you carry on working. If you do not want to claim yet, you can delay (defer) claiming to increase the amount you get.

If you are eligible for a state pension from the Isle of Man, it is separate from your UK new State Pension. You will get one payment for your UK pension and a separate payment for your Isle of Man pension. You cannot defer an Isle of Man pension after 6 April 2016.

If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, you might have been underpaid if you are a woman who is married, divorced or widowed, or if you are over 80 and getting a State Pension of less than £85 a week. The Department for Work and Pensions will probably have contacted you and sent a payment if this applies. If they have not, you can check by contacting the Pension Service.

Do I have to claim my State Pension, or is it paid automatically?

You have to claim it. It is not paid automatically when you reach State Pension age.

Can I claim by phone?

Yes, if you will reach State Pension age in the next four months you can phone the Pension Service to claim.

Can I keep working and still claim?

Yes. You can claim your new State Pension even if you carry on working, or you can delay claiming to increase the amount you get.

What if I have lived or worked abroad?

When you apply, you will be asked if you have lived or worked abroad. If you lived or worked in an EEA country or Switzerland, you will be sent a claim form and the International Pension Centre will pass your claim to the relevant schemes.