{"id":289399,"date":"2025-07-25T02:01:20","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T02:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/289399\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T02:01:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T02:01:20","slug":"people-due-to-retire-need-to-claim-new-state-pension-or-first-payment-will-be-delayed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/289399\/","title":{"rendered":"People due to retire need to claim New State Pension or first payment will be delayed"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first payment might also be higher or lower than expected even with full National Insurance contributions.<\/p>\n

The latest statistics from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show the State Pension<\/a> currently provides regular financial support for nearly 13 million older people across the country, including over one million retirees living in Scotland. This payment is available for those who have reached the UK Government\u2019s eligible retirement age, which is currently 66 for both men and women, and have paid at least 10 years’ worth of National Insurance Contributions.<\/p>\n

However, people approaching the official age of retirement this year may not be aware that the State Pension is regarded as a contributory benefit and is not paid automatically by the DWP. The payment needs to be claimed, or retirees could face a delay in receiving their first payment of up to \u00a3230.25 each week, or \u00a3921.00 every four-week pay period.<\/p>\n

The money is not paid automatically when someone reaches State Pension age as some people choose to defer making a claim in order to keep working and generate more towards their pension pot, especially if they have not paid the full quota of 35 years’ worth of National Insurance Contributions, or were ‘contracted out’<\/a>.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: People working past State Pension age this year due wages boost from employer – how to claim<\/a>READ MORE: New State Pension age changes set to delay retirement payments for millions of people<\/a><\/p>\n

DWP guidance<\/a> explains: \u201cYou do not get your State Pension automatically – you have to claim it. You should get a letter no later than two months before you reach State Pension age, telling you what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

It then clarifies you can either claim your State Pension or delay (defer) claiming it<\/a>. It states: \u201cIf you want to defer, you do not have to do anything. Your pension will automatically be deferred until you claim it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which means, unless you respond to the letter confirming you want to start claiming State Pension<\/a>, you will not receive any payments as the DWP will interpret no response as a wish to defer.<\/p>\n

Deferring your State Pension could increase the payments you get each week when you decide to claim it, as long as you defer for at least nine weeks. Your State Pension increases by the equivalent of 1% for every nine weeks you defer, this works out as just under 5.8% for every 52 weeks.<\/p>\n

The extra amount is paid with your regular State Pension payment, however, it\u2019s important to be aware any extra payments you get from deferring could be taxed – find out more on GOV.UK here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

it’s also important to be aware deferred State Pensions increase each year in line with the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate and not the highest measure of the Triple Lock policy.<\/p>\n

State Pension payments<\/p>\n

Full New State Pension<\/strong><\/p>\n