Not ready to retire?
If you like, you can do voluntary or paid work while you are receiving your State Pension. You can find out more information about Voluntary and Paid Work in our retired section or in the Over 50s section of the Directgov website. This information is also available in the Pensioners' guide.
Read and print the Pensioners' guide
Reward for claiming your State Pension later
You can also choose to postpone claiming your State Pension. This means you’ll get a higher weekly State Pension when you do finally claim.
Important New Choice from 6 April 2005
The Government has introduced a new choice for people who put off claiming their State Pension. People may be able to get more extra weekly pension when they do finally claim or the choice of a one-off taxable lump sum payment when they do finally claim.
This change is designed to give people more choice in how and when they retire by making it more attractive to delay taking their State Pension.
Your options
Deciding when to claim your state pension is an important decision. You may already be thinking about a more flexible approach to your retirement and from 6 April 2005, there will be more choice open to you.
You will still be able to:
- retire from work and claim your State Pension, when you reach State Pension age; or
- claim your State Pension but carry on working, or
- put off claiming your State Pension (whether you are working or not).
But the new rules will give you more State Pension for the time you put off claiming, and a new choice of how to take the extra money. You can also put off claiming for as long as you like and get your reward.
Putting off claiming State Pension may not be right for everyone but if you think it may be right for you, it is important to find out more before you decide. We have information to help you, and you can also seek advice from a financial advisor or talk to family and friends.
Find out more about taking up your State Pension later
Get the most out of later life
The Directgov website's Over 50s section points you in the right direction for help and advice available through Government and voluntary organisations.
It provides information and contact details for community and voluntary organisations, training opportunities and health and fitness advice.
More about the basic State Pension
You can read and print State Pensions - Your guide or State Pensions for carers and parents - Your guide from our resource centre.