How do I claim?
You will usually be sent an invitation to claim your State Pension 4 months before you reach State Pension age. If you have not received your invitation 3 months before you reach State Pension age, get in touch with The Pension Service
You can claim State Pension over the phone. This is a quicker process and will help to ensure that you receive your first payment on time. The number to ring is 0800 731 7898 or alternative Welsh and textphone versions. Details can be taken over the phone, questions answered and you can be advised of other benefits / products e.g. Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit. We can also capture any communication needs you may have like large print. In the majority of cases details of your entitlement / award can be given at the end of the call.
Information to have at hand when making your claim over the phone
When you claim your State Pension we will need to know certain information from you. To quicken the process please have the following information at hand when making your claim:
- Your national insurance number
- Tax reference number – if available
- Details about your spouse / civil partner:-
- Their national insurance number
- Your date of marriage or formation of civil partnership
- Your employers name and address along with your payroll, staff number and where applicable the date you stopped working
- Details of other benefits either you or your spouse / civil partner are receiving with the benefit reference number if known
- Your social security number (if you have ever lived and worked abroad)
- Dates of any periods of time when you were in hospital and the name and address of the hospital
- Details of the bank you want your payments paid into e.g. sort code, account number or Building Society roll / reference number
Read or print a form
You can read or print a State Pension benefit claim form. You should post this completed form to your pension centre or local office.
This form does not apply in Northern Ireland. For information on pensions in Northern Ireland see the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland website.
You can call the State Pension claimline. The number to ring is 0800 731 7898 or alternative Welsh and textphone versions. Opening hours 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm Saturday.