Delay (defer) your State Pension

3. 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 may be reduced if you choose to take your extra State Pension as a lump sum.

Get help

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

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Last updated: 3 August 2016