How to defer my State Pension
Deferring your State Pension can be a smart financial decision if you don’t need the income right away.
By waiting to claim, you allow your payments to grow — permanently increasing the amount you’ll receive every week for the rest of your life.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to defer your State Pension, how much more you could get, and the practical rules for doing it safely and effectively.
🧭 What “Deferring” Means
To defer your State Pension simply means delaying your claim after reaching State Pension age.
You don’t have to fill in any forms or make a request — if you do nothing when you become eligible, your pension will automatically be deferred.
Later, when you decide to claim, your weekly amount will be higher than if you had taken it immediately.
It’s a flexible way to boost your retirement income — especially if you continue working, have other income, or just don’t need the State Pension yet.
🪙 How to Defer Your State Pension
Deferring is automatic if you don’t apply once you reach your State Pension age.
If you’ve already started receiving payments and wish to stop, you can pause (suspend) your State Pension once in your lifetime. To do that, contact the Pension Service:
📞 Pension Service helpline: 0800 731 7898
(Textphone: 0800 731 7339 / Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 731 7898)
They’ll guide you through suspending and later restarting your payments.
📈 How Much Extra You’ll Get by Deferring
The amount your pension increases depends on when you reached State Pension age.
If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 (New State Pension):
- Your pension increases by 1% for every 9 weeks you defer.
- That’s roughly 5.8% for every full year of deferral.
- The increase is added permanently once you claim.
💡 Example:
If your weekly State Pension is £230.25 and you defer for one year:
£230.25 × 5.8% = £13.35 extra per week (around £243.60 total).
Over ten years, that’s more than £6,900 of extra income — not counting future annual Triple Lock increases.
If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 (Basic State Pension):
- The increase is more generous: 1% for every 5 weeks deferred, or about 10.4% per year.
- You can also choose to receive a lump sum payment instead of higher weekly amounts if you defer for at least 12 months.
💰 The Lump Sum Option (Old Rules Only)
If you were eligible for the Basic State Pension (before April 2016) and deferred for at least a full year, you can take a lump sum instead of higher weekly payments.
- The lump sum includes all the pension you would have received during that year, plus interest (2% above the Bank of England base rate).
- This option is not available under the new State Pension system.
For most people retiring today, only the weekly increase method applies.
⚠️ Limitations and Exceptions
While deferring is simple, there are situations where it may not be beneficial or even possible:
- If you (or your partner) receive certain benefits — such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit, or Income Support — you will not earn the extra increase during that period.
- Once you’ve started receiving your State Pension, you can only suspend it once.
- Your tax situation might change: the increased pension could push your income into a higher tax bracket.
- For people in poor health, the “break-even” time to recover the value of deferral (around 3–5 years) may not make financial sense.
Always check with the Future Pension Centre before making the decision.
📞 0800 731 0175
🧮 Example Scenarios
| Deferral Period | Weekly Pension Before | Increase (%) | New Weekly Pension | Total Gain per Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 weeks | £230.25 | +1% | £232.55 | £120.00 |
| 6 months | £230.25 | +2.9% | £236.92 | £346.00 |
| 1 year | £230.25 | +5.8% | £243.60 | £680.00 |
Even modest delays can result in long-term benefits — especially since the increase compounds annually under the Triple Lock.
🔁 How to Claim After Deferring
When you’re ready to claim your State Pension, you can do it:
- Online: www.gov.uk/claim-state-pension
- By phone: 0800 731 7898
- By post: using the claim form provided by the Pension Service
Your new, increased payment will start from your chosen claim date — not automatically from when you reached pension age.
📋 Practical Tips Before You Decide
✅ Check your State Pension forecast first — know what you’re entitled to before deferring.
✅ Consider your health and tax situation — deferral works best for those expecting a longer retirement horizon.
✅ Review other income sources — if you already have sufficient income, deferring might make sense.
✅ Talk to the Future Pension Centre for personal guidance.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1️⃣ Can I defer my pension more than once?
No. You can only suspend your pension once after you start receiving it.
2️⃣ Is the increase permanent?
Yes. Once applied, your higher weekly rate continues for life (and rises annually with the Triple Lock).
3️⃣ Can I defer while receiving other benefits?
No. You cannot earn an increase if you or your partner are on income-related benefits.
4️⃣ Is the lump sum option available for everyone?
No. Only for people who reached pension age before 6 April 2016.
5️⃣ How do I restart my pension after deferring?
Contact the Pension Service or claim online at GOV.UK — payments will begin from your chosen date.