Delay (defer) your State Pension

If you get benefits or tax credits

You can’t build up extra State Pension during any period you get:

  • Income Support
  • Pension Credit
  • Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-based)
  • Universal Credit
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • Widow’s Pension
  • Widowed Parent’s Allowance
  • Unemployability Supplement

You can’t build up extra State Pension during any period your partner gets:

  • Income Support
  • Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-related)

Higher weekly payments

Taking your extra State Pension as higher weekly payments could reduce the amount you get from:

  • Income Support
  • Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit
  • Employment and Support Allowance (income-related)
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance (income-related)
  • Housing Benefit
  • Council Tax Reduction
  • tax credits

If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016

Your tax credits or Universal Credit payments may be reduced if you choose to take your extra State Pension as a lump sum.

Winter Fuel Payment

You need to claim Winter Fuel Payment if you’ve deferred your State Pension. You only need to do this once.

Get help

Contact Jobcentre Plus if you need help to understand how your benefits could be affected.

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