State Pensions

Many ARMs members retire before state pension age and have to wait for their national insurance retirement pension to begin. To apply for a UK state pension you need to follow a few steps. Here's a brief guide on how and when to apply.

Eligibility

You must be approaching the state pension age to apply for a UK state pension. The age varies depending on your date of birth. Click here to check when your state pension will become due.

Timing

You can apply for your state pension up to 4 months before reaching the state pension age. However, the payments will only start once you reach the eligible age. You will not receive your pension  automatically so you must submit a claim. 

Claiming Options

There are several ways in which you can claim your state pension.

• Online: Applying online is the quickest method. Click here to claim via the official government website. 

• Phone: You can call the Pension Service claim line at 0800 731 7898 to apply over the phone.

• Letter: You should receive a letter about your state pension at least 3 months before it becomes due. Follow the instructions provided.

Required Information

When applying, you'll need the following information:

• National Insurance number

• Personal details (name, address, date of birth)

• Bank account details for pension payments

Were you contracted out?

Under the State Pension rules before 2016 you or your workplace or private pension scheme could choose to ‘contract out’ of the Additional State Pension. The Additional State Pension was also known as State Second Pension or ‘SERPs’. Many civil servants were contracted out of the state pension with contributions made to civil service pensions instead. The rules changed in 2016. Click here to find out more about what effect this could have had on your state pension.   

How much will you get?

“According to pension industry guidelines, a single pensioner needs £14,400 a year to have a minimum lifestyle in retirement, rising to £43,100 for a comfortable retirement. (Moneyweek)”. The maximum state pension in the UK from April 2024 is £221.20 per week or £11502 per annum but not everybody will receive the maximum. The government provides an online tool to enable you to check how much state pension you might expect to receive. Click here to check your pension forecast.

Remember

It's important to stay informed about any updates or changes to the application process by visiting the official government website or contacting the Pension Service. Click here for more general information on the UK state pension.