State pension age increases will change going forward – new rules explained

State pension age increases used to be based on a person’s date of birth, with those born between October 6 1954 and April 5 1960 reaching their state pension age on their 66th birthday. Going forward however, how a person reaches state pension age will be dependent on how far into their 66th year they are until it officially reaches 67 between 2026 and 2028.

To receive anything from a state pension, a person will need at least 10 years of National Insurance contributions.

To receive the highest payment of £175.20 per week from a state pension, a minimum of 35 years will be needed.

For these National Insurance contributions to be qualifying, at least one of the following needs to apply:

• A person was working and paying National Insurance contributions
• A person was getting National Insurance credits, for example if they were unemployed, ill or a parent or carer
• A person was paying voluntary National Insurance contributions

When a state pension is claimed, the first payment will arrive within five weeks.

Beyond this, payments will arrive every four weeks on specific days of the week which are dependent on National Insurance numbers.

State pensions can be claimed while a person is still working which could boost income in retirement.

Additionally, state pensions can be deferred and if this is done for a minimum of nine weeks, payments from them will eventually be boosted.