The DWP rules for the state pension are changing at the moment
State pensioners and those nearing retirement have been urged to review the DWP regulations that concern them. Now is an opportune moment to check as the qualifying criteria for the benefit are currently undergoing key changes.
Pensions expert Hannah Martin, founder of Rich Retiree, warned that individuals often fail to grasp how the state pension works and their entitlement. She stated: “According to Age UK, one on four people don’t know their state pension age. And millions of people don’t receive the full amount because they haven’t built up enough qualifying years of National Insurance contributions.” It’s certainly worthwhile checking at what age you can claim your state pension as this may be later than you think. The state pension age is presently rising, increasing in phases between April 2026 and April 2028, from 66 to 67.
Another rise is also planned, with the state pension age set to increase from 67 to 68 between April 2044 and April 2046. There has been speculation about bringing forward the move to 68, so it’s worth monitoring for any changes to the regulations.
Find out how much you will get
Understanding your National Insurance contributions (NI) can be tricky. Typically, you’ll require 35 years of NI contributions to receive the full new state pension, which currently stands at £241.30 per week.
The full basic state pension offers £184.90 weekly, and you’ll generally need 30 years of NI contributions to qualify. You can check your projected amount using the state pension forecast tool available on the gov.uk website.
This online resource will also indicate whether you could potentially boost your entitlement. One method of doing so involves voluntarily purchasing contributions to plug any shortfalls in your record.
However, you’re only permitted to do this retrospectively for up to six tax years. Financial expert Martin Lewis recently discussed where paying to top up your contributions might prove worthwhile.
State pension payments rise each April in accordance with the triple lock mechanism, which increased payments by 4.8 percent in April 2026. This safeguard guarantees the state pension rises in line with whichever is highest: 2.5 percent, average earnings growth, or inflation.
£4,300 extra
Beyond the state pension itself, Ms Martin warned that many pensioners may be unaware they could claim additional funds from the DWP. She explained: “Many are also unaware of their entitlements.
“According to the Department for Work and Pensions, around £2.5billion in Pension Credit goes uncollected each year. They estimate that around 910,000 families who qualify for the benefit aren’t applying, missing out on an average annual payment of £4,300.”
Pension Credit offers a top-up to boost your income to a minimum threshold, raising it to £238 a week for single claimants and up to £363.25 a year for couples. Additional amounts can be added depending on your circumstances, such as an extra £86.05 a week for those with a severe disability.
Claiming the benefit also unlocks access to further Government assistance, including council tax reductions, housing benefit and a free TV licence for claimants aged 75 and over. The Government website has a tool allowing you to check how much you could receive through Pension Credit.
