What is the UK State Pension 2025?

How much State Pension can you get? Everything you need to know about your state pension 2025, the state pension amount, triple lock, eligibility, state pension age and how you can claim.

How much is basic State Pension 2024/25?

For the 2024/2025 tax year, the basic State Pension amount is £169.50 per week.

This applies if you reached pension age before April 2016. How much you get depends on your National Insurance record.

How much is the basic State Pension 2025?

From April 2025, the full, basic state pension amount is expected to go up to £176.45 a week.

This means the pension in 2025/26 will increase by £6.95 a week, when compared to the 2024/25 rate.

How much is the full new State Pension 2024/25?

The new State Pension was introduced in 2016 to replace the basic State Pension.

In 2024/25, the amount is £221.20 per week, if you reached pension age after April 2016.

How much is the full new State Pension 2025?

From April 2025, the new full state pension will rise by 4.1%, (in line with the increase in Average Weekly Earnings in the year to May to July 2024).

The weekly pension will rise from £221.20 a week in 2024/25 to £230.25 a week in 2025/26. From April 2025, this increases by £9.05 a week.

What is the triple lock on pensions?

The triple lock is a government promise to raise the value of publicly funded pensions by whichever is highest: 1) the level of earnings, 2) inflation or 3) 2.5%.

Average weekly earnings rose by 4.1% in the three months to July 2024 according to the ONS figures (10 Sept 2024) which has fuelled the boost to your pension from April 2025.

Who can claim the Basic Pension? 

If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, you’ll get the basic State Pension.

To claim basic State Pension, you must be either a man born before 6 April 1951 or woman born before 6 April 1953. If you were born on or after these dates, you must claim the new State Pension instead.

The number of National Insurance qualifying years you need to get a basic pension depends on your circumstances.

A National Insurance qualifying year is one in which you either:

• worked and paid National Insurance.
• got National Insurance Credits (e.g. you were unemployed, sick, or a parent or carer).
• paid voluntary National Insurance contributions.

You might be eligible if you have fewer qualifying years. To check, contact the Pension Service (or, if you live abroad, the International Pension Centre).

Who can claim the new State Pension?

You’ll be able to claim the new State Pension if you are a man born on or after 6 April 1951 or a woman born on or after 6 April 1953.

The earliest you can receive it is when you reach pension age.

What is the State Pension age? 

Your State Pension age depends on when you were born. The State Pension age is currently 66 years old for both men and women. You can check when you will receive your State Pension on the GOV.UK website.

How can I check how much pension I’ll get?

Find out how much State Pension you could get, when you will receive it and how you can increase it, by checking your state pension forecast.  

You may get more or less pension depending on your National Insurance (NI) record. Find out if you have paid enough National Insurance to qualify for the full State Pension. Check gaps, contributions and credits. Check your National Insurance record here.

How is my pension paid?

The new State Pension is usually paid every four weeks into an account of your choice. If you want to change the account, tell the Pension Service.

Your first payment will be within 5 weeks of reaching state pension age. You’re paid in arrears (for the last 4 weeks).

How can I claim the new State Pension?

You do not get your State Pension automatically. You have to claim it.

A letter should be sent to you about three months before you reach pension age, telling you how to claim your pension. If you have not received a letter at least two months before you reach pension age, you should contact the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469.

To claim it, you need:    

• The date of your most recent marriage, civil partnership or divorce.
• The dates of any time spent living or working abroad.
• Your bank or building society details.

If you’re applying online, you’ll also need the invitation code from the letter about getting your State Pension. If you have not received an invitation letter but you are within three months of reaching your pension age, you can request an invitation code.

It is possible to claim your new State Pension even if you carry on working. You also have the option to delay your pension.

You can claim it by either:

• Claiming online on the gov.uk website, or
• Telephoning the State Pension Claim line on 0800 731 7898, or
• Posting a completed State Pension claim form. You can ask for a form by calling the claim line or downloading a State Pension claim form  to print. The postal address is:  

Pension Service 8
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV98 1AF

• If you are claiming pension or benefits from abroad or you have lived abroad, you can contact the International Pension Centre by telephoning +44 (0) 191 218 7777 or completing an online enquiry form on the gov.uk website.

Can I claim more than the full State Pension?  

You can only increase your full State Pension if:

• You have over a certain amount of Additional State Pension.
• You delay taking your State Pension.  

You cannot build up extra state pension if you are in prison.  

How do I defer my pension?

You can either claim your State Pension or delay claiming it.

If you want to defer, you do not have to do anything. Your pension will automatically be deferred until you claim it. Deferring your pension increases the amount of money you get when you do decide to claim it later.

When you claim your deferred State Pension, you’ll get a letter asking how you want to take your extra pension. You will have 3 months from receiving that letter to decide.

If you reached pension age before 6 April 2016, you can take your extra State Pension as either higher weekly payments or a one-off lump sum.

However, reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, means the extra amount is paid with your regular pension payment.

If you have questions and need help with your State Pension, you can telephone the State Pension Claim Line on on 0800 731 7898.

What is Pension Credit?

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income.

Can I inherit or increase a pension from a spouse or civil partner?

You might be able to inherit an extra payment on top of your new State Pension if you’re widowed.

However, you will not be able to inherit anything if you remarry or form a new civil partnership before you reach State Pension age.

Can I still claim my pension if I move into a care home?

In answer to this question, if you have reached State Pension age, you can still receive a State Pension when in a care home. 

A self-funder who is paying for all care home fees themselves will continue to receive a State Pension as normal.

If you receive state-funded care, your State Pension will be counted as income when they work out how much you should contribute. Your pension will then be used to pay towards the costs of your care home fees.

 To read more on this subject check out this advice article about whether you lose your pension if you move into a care home.