Widow’s Pension and Bereavement Benefits: What You Can Claim
What is the UK State Pension?
The UK state pension is one of the main types of government pension designed to support your retirement income once you reach State Pension age. It’s based on your National Insurance (NI) record and gives you a steady income to support your living costs later in life.
Why it exists and who runs it
The system is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It exists to ensure that everyone who has paid, or been credited with, enough NI contributions receives a guaranteed income in retirement. Rather than being funded by your own savings, it’s paid for through the contributions of people currently working.
New State Pension vs Basic State Pension (pre-2016)
If you reached state pension age on or after 6 April 2016, you’ll receive the new State Pension. If you reached it before that date, you’ll receive the Basic State Pension. As of 2025, the full new State Pension is £230.25 per week, while the full basic State Pension is £176.45 per week.
Who is eligible for the State Pension?
To qualify for the state pension, you must have built up enough National Insurance (NI) contributions or credits during your working life. Your eligibility isn’t based on income or savings; it depends on your NI record and, in some cases, your residency history in the UK. Even if you haven’t worked continuously, you may still qualify for a partial state pension amount or be able to increase it by paying voluntary contributions. You can check your state pension eligibility here.
Residency and National Insurance (NI) rules
To receive the state pension, you normally need to have lived and worked in the UK, paying NI contributions or receiving NI credits, for example, while caring for a child or claiming certain benefits.
Qualifying years explained
For the full new state pension, you need 35 qualifying years of NI contributions or credits. If you have fewer years, you’ll receive a proportionate amount. Under the older basic state pension rules (for those reaching pension age before April 2016), around 30 years of contributions were needed to reach the full amount.
Gaps in your NI record
If you’ve spent time abroad, been self-employed, or taken career breaks, you might have gaps in your NI record. These gaps can reduce your entitlement, but you may be able to fill them by paying voluntary Class 3 contributions, which help to increase your state pension amount before you retire.
How much State Pension will I get?
If you’re wondering how much the state pension is, the full UK state pension amount for 2025/26 is £230.25 per week, although you may receive less if you don’t have a complete NI record.
How your NI record affects your amount
The state pension amount is calculated from your qualifying years. For example, if you’ve worked and contributed for 20 years, you’ll get roughly 20/35ths of the full amount.
Filling gaps with voluntary NI contributions
You can often increase your pension by paying voluntary Class 3 NI contributions. This can be worthwhile if you’re close to retirement and haven’t quite met the full qualifying years.
State Pension forecast: how to check yours
You can use the government’s official State Pension Calculator to check your record, see how much state pension you will get, and identify any gaps. Please note, you’ll need a Government Gateway account to access this feature.
When can I claim the State Pension?
You can start receiving your state pension once you reach the official state pension age. You can also choose to keep working while claiming, but this might affect your tax position. You can claim your state pension online or by phone. The Pension Service will contact you around three months before you reach your state pension age.
State Pension age and upcoming changes
You can claim the state pension once you reach State Pension age (SPA), which is currently 66 for both men and women. However, the SPA is due to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and 68 in the 2040s.
Can I claim while working, and what are the tax implications?
Yes. You can start receiving your state pension while you’re still working. However, your pension counts as taxable income, so if your total earnings (including your salary and pension) exceed your personal allowance, you may have to pay income tax under PAYE.
Delaying your State Pension
You can defer claiming to increase your weekly income later. Under the new system, your payments will rise by approximately 1% for every nine weeks you delay, which is around 5.8% for a full year. Deferring can make sense if you don’t need the income immediately, but you should weigh the benefits against how long it takes to recover the missed payments.
Deferring your State Pension: Pros and Cons
Deferring your state pension means waiting to claim it in exchange for a higher payment later. It can make sense if you don’t need the income straight away or expect to live longer, but there are pros and cons to consider:
| Pros | Cons |
| Your future income increases the longer you defer. | You forgo income now, which may take years to recover. |
| Useful if you expect to live longer or don’t yet need the money. | No guarantee you’ll live long enough to benefit fully. |
| It can help reduce taxable income if you’re still working. | You can’t backdate payments once you decide to claim. |
| Straightforward to set up. You simply delay claiming. | You won’t earn interest on the payments you postpone. |
You can find out more about deferring your state pension and how it affects your state pension payments at GOV.UK.
How to claim your State Pension
Claiming online, by phone or from overseas
You can claim online via GOV.UK, by phone, or from overseas. Most people are contacted by the Pension Service about three months before reaching state pension age.
What documents or details will you need?
You’ll need your NI number, bank details, and identification such as a passport or driving licence. You might also be asked for proof of address and previous employment details if applicable.
Can I increase or boost my State Pension?
There are several ways you can potentially increase or boost your state pension, depending on your circumstances. Some people choose to defer their payments to receive a higher state pension amount later, while others fill gaps in their National Insurance record with voluntary contributions. If your overall income is low, you might also qualify for Pension Credit or other top-ups designed to help boost your retirement income.
Voluntary NI contributions (Class 3)
You can pay voluntary contributions to fill gaps in your NI record. Always check your forecast first to ensure it’s worth the cost.
Pension Credit and other top-ups
If your total income is low, Pension Credit could top it up. You may also be eligible for other benefits, depending on your circumstances.
How the State Pension is taxed
Although the state pension provides a regular income in retirement, it isn’t tax-free. The amount of tax you pay depends on your overall income, including any other pensions, savings, earnings and your personal allowance. Understanding how your state pensionis taxed can help you plan your finances more effectively and avoid unexpected bills.Whether you receive the full state pension or a partial amount, it counts as taxable income.
State Pension and your personal allowance
Your state pension is treated as taxable income. If your total annual income exceeds your personal allowance (currently £12,570), you may need to pay tax on the amount above this threshold. This applies whether you receive just your state pension or combine it with other sources of retirement income.
State Pension alongside private and workplace pensions
If you also receive income from a private or workplace pension, these are added together for tax purposes. My Pension Expert can help you plan your withdrawals efficiently, so you don’t pay more tax than necessary, ensuring your state pensionworks alongside your other income to support a comfortable retirement.
If you move overseas, you can usually still receive your state pension if you’ve built up enough National Insurance contributions. However, where you live can affect how your state pension is paid and whether it increases over time. Understanding the rules before relocating helps you plan confidently and avoid surprises.
Claiming from abroad
You can claim your state pension from most countries once you reach state pension age. Payments can usually be made directly into an overseas bank account, although exchange rates and transfer times may vary.
Countries where a state pension may not increase
In some countries, your state pension amount may be frozen, meaning it won’t rise each year under the government’s triple lock system. This applies mainly to countries without a reciprocal social security agreement with the UK. If you’re thinking about moving abroad, it’s worth checking how your pension could be affected before you go.
How My Pension Expert can help
Understanding your state pension is just one part of planning for a secure retirement. At My Pension Expert, our advisers can help you see how your state pension fits alongside your private and workplace pensions and how to make the most of every source of income available to you.
Why advice still matters for State Pension planning
While your state pension is determined by government rules, professional advice can make a real difference to how effectively you use it. Our team can help you forecast your payments, consider your claiming options, and explore ways to combine your state pension with other income for the best long-term outcome.
Combining State Pension with personal and workplace pensions
Your state pension provides a reliable foundation, but it’s often not enough on its own to fund your full retirement lifestyle. My Pension Expert can help you plan how to draw on your private or workplace pensions, or other investments, in a tax-efficient way, complementing the security of your state pension with flexibility and growth potential.
Expert insight: State Pension vs Private Pension Income
Your state pension offers something few other income sources can match: guaranteed, inflation-linked payments for life. However, the state pension amount alone is unlikely to cover every aspect of your retirement lifestyle. That’s where private and workplace pensions come in.
Private pensions provide greater flexibility and the potential for higher returns, but they also carry investment risk and require active management. The state pension, by contrast, delivers stability and predictability, and forms the base of your retirement income plan.
Many people find that combining the two offers the best of both worlds: a steady, reliable income from the state pension, complemented by the freedom and growth potential of private savings. My Pension Expert’s advisers can help you balance these elements, so your income strategy works for your goals, priorities, and peace of mind.
