How Long After My 66th Birthday Will I Get My State Pension? Find Out When Payments Begin, Delays & Claim Tips

How Long After My 66th Birthday Will I Get My State Pension?

Turning 66 in the UK marks a key milestone: reaching the State Pension age. But when exactly do you receive your payments? This guide explores the timing, differences between the Basic and New State Pension, deferral options, tax implications, and more. We answer key questions such as “How long after my 66th birthday will I get my State Pension?”, and include insights into tools like the State Pension age calculator, backdating rules, and payment schedules.

What Are the Two Types of State Pension?

What Is the Basic (Old) State Pension?

• Applies if you were eligible for a state pension prior to April 6, 2016.
• Full rate (2025/26): approx. £176.45/week
• Requires National Insurance (NI) contributions for 30 eligible years.
• Minimum 10 years to qualify

What Is the New State Pension?

• For individuals who become eligible for the State Pension on or after April 6, 2016
• Full rate (2025/26): approx. £230.25/week
• Requires 35 qualifying years of NI contributions
• Minimum 10 years required

Feature	Basic (Old) State Pension	New State Pension
Applicable to	People reaching SPA before 6 April 2016	People reaching SPA on/after 6 April 2016
Full weekly amount (2025/26)	£176.45	£230.25
NI contributions needed for full rate	30 years	35 years
Minimum qualifying years	10 years	10 years
Contracted‑out effects	Didn’t apply	Paid into a “starting amount”; protected payments possible
Payment frequency & timing	Every 4 weeks; first payment: end of first full week after claim date	Every 4 weeks; first full payment within 5 weeks of chosen start date
Deferring to increase pension	≈10.4% extra for each full year deferred	≈5.8% extra per year (1% per 9 weeks)
Annual increase (“Triple Lock”)	Highest of CPI, average earnings, or 2.5%	Same “triple lock” mechanism
Taxable?	Yes — paid under PAYE; counts towards your Personal Allowance	Same treatment as Basic pension
Claiming & eligibility	Claim up to 4 months in advance; SPA currently 66, rising to 67 by 2028	Same process and timing; claim ahead advised

How Many Full NI Years Do I Need for Full State Pension?

Basic State Pension (pre-2016 system)

If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, you fall under the Basic State Pension rules. Usually, in order to be eligible for the full Basic State Pension, you had to:

• 30 years of National Insurance (NI) credits or contributions that qualify

• These could come from employment, self-employment, or National Insurance credits (e.g. for carers or those on certain benefits)

Your pension would be prorated if your service was less than 30 years. For example, 15 qualifying years would give you 50% of the full Basic State Pension.

New State Pension (post-2016 system)

The New State Pension is available to you if you become eligible for it on or after April 6, 2016. You will require:

• 35 full qualifying years of National Insurance

• 10 years or more to get any kind of state pension

Note: If you’ve been contracted out of the Additional State Pension during your career, your new State Pension may be lower. A transitional calculation is applied to account for this.

You can check your NI record and forecast your pension amount on the GOV.UK Website.

When Will I Get Paid After My 66th Birthday?

Do I Receive State Pension as Soon as I Turn 66?

No, turning 66 does not trigger automatic payments. Your State Pension must be actively sought.

• Up to four months before to your 66th birthday, you can submit an application.

• The payments typically start 3 to 5 weeks after your chosen start date

• Your start date can be any date after you reach State Pension age, including your birthday

How to Claim:

• Online via gov.uk

• By phone or by requesting a paper form if you prefer not to apply online

Claiming late does not mean you’ll automatically receive a backdated lump sum. If you don’t claim, the pension is considered deferred.

What Date Is the State Pension Paid This Month?

Your National Insurance (NI) number’s final two numbers determine when you will get your State Pension:

Payment Frequency

• paid in arrears every four weeks (for the preceding 4 weeks)

• Paid directly into your bank account

If your payment date falls on a bank holiday, you’ll usually receive it early, not late.

Using the State Pension Age Calculator

To check your official State Pension age and eligibility date, use the “gov.uk state pension age calculator”.

What You’ll Need:

• Your date of birth

• Your gender (only applicable to individuals born prior to December 6, 1953, as a result of the equalization of pension age)

The calculator will confirm:

• The exact date you qualify

• Your pension age

• Whether the rules changed since your last check

Why Consider Deferring Your State Pension?

Can I Defer After Turning 66—and Is It Worth It?

Yes, you can defer your State Pension voluntarily. When you do choose to make a claim, this may result in higher payouts.

For Basic State Pension:

• 10.4% increase per year deferred

• If you defer for 12 months, and your full pension is £169.50/week, you’d receive around £18/week more later

For New State Pension:

• 5.8% increase per year deferred (or 1% for every 9 weeks of deferral)

• That’s roughly £11–£12 extra per week after deferring one full year

Pros of Deferring:

• Higher future income for life.

• Good for those with other income sources or working past 66.

• Could improve survivor benefits for your spouse or civil partner (if you pass away after building up more pension).

Cons to Consider:

• A lump sum payment won’t be given to you until the previous (Basic) method is used.
• If you die early, you may lose out overall.

• Additional income might push you over tax thresholds in retirement.

It’s a personal decision—run calculations or speak to a financial adviser before deciding.

How Long Should I Defer?

Even short deferral periods can result in a noticeable increase in your State Pension income, especially under the New State Pension system.

Example:

• Standard New State Pension (2025/26): £230.25 per week

• 6-month deferral: Adds approximately 3%

• Resulting weekly increase: £230.25 × 0.0348 ≈ £7.96 extra per week

• This uplift is permanent, and it applies for the rest of your life

Important: Under the new scheme, deferred amounts are added to your regular payments—not given as a lump sum.

Pros and Cons of Deferring the State Pension

Pros:

• Higher Weekly Income for Life: Useful if you expect to live long into retirement

• Tax Efficiency: Helps avoid paying tax now if you’re still earning above the Personal Allowance

• Boost to Household Income Later: Especially beneficial if your partner retires later or your expenses rise

Cons:

• No Income During the Deferral Period: Could affect your budget and savings drawdown

• Not Paid as Lump Sum (under New State Pension rules): Unlike the old scheme, you only get an increased weekly rate

• Risk of Dying Early: You may not benefit from deferral if your lifespan is shorter than expected

Break-even point: On average, it takes 10 to 12 years of increased payments to recover what was missed during deferral.

Can I Claim My State Pension and Keep Working?

Yes, you can claim your State Pension at 66 and continue to work without penalty. How Much State Pension Will I Get at 66 if I’ve Worked Full-Time?

• Earnings do not reduce your pension: There’s no upper limit on how much you can earn

• You may pay more tax: Because your pension and employment income are combined for tax purposes

After reaching State Pension age, you will no longer be required to pay National Insurance, although income tax is still due.

And if i have never worked? 

Will I Pay Tax on My State Pension at Age 66?

Yes, the State Pension is taxable income, although it’s not taxed at source.

2025/26 Tax Details:

• Personal Allowance: £12,570 per year

• The annual full New State pension is £230.25 × 52 = £11,973.

If the State Pension is your only income, it remains under the allowance. But if you receive:

• A workplace or private pension

• Income from employment or self-employment

• Rental or savings income

…you could exceed the threshold and be taxed on the difference.

Is State Pension Backdated to Your Birthday?

• You can request to backdate your claim by up to 12 months

• Under the New State Pension, you will get a greater weekly pension rate rather than a lump sum payment.

• Backdating must be requested—it is not automatic

For Basic State Pension (pre-2016), backdated claims could be paid as a lump sum, but this no longer applies for new claimants.

Step-by-Step State Pension Claim Process

Step 1: Check Your State Pension Age

Utilize GOV.UK’s official “State Pension Age Calculator”

Step 2: Gather Required Information

You will need:

• National Insurance Number

• Bank or Building Society account details

• Current and past employment history

• Details of time spent abroad (if any)

Step 3: Submit Your Claim

Apply:

• Online at gov.uk/get-state-pension

• By phone (contact details vary by location)

• By post (using form BR1)

You have up to four months to make your claim.

Step 4: Receive Confirmation and Payment

• You’ll receive a decision letter confirming your payment date.

• 3 to 5 weeks after the commencement date you select, payments start.

• Paid every 4 weeks thereafter.

Real-Life Example Scenarios

Old Pension, No Deferral

John turns 66 on 1 June and claims 1 February. First payment arrives end of June: £176.45/week every 4 weeks.

New Pension, With Deferral

Mary turns 66 on 1 October but defers for one year. She receives £230.25 + 5.8% = £243.60/week.

Conclusion – How Long After My 66th Birthday Will I Get My State Pension?

To answer “How long after my 66th birthday will I get my State Pension?” — expect it within 3 to 5 weeks after your claim date, not automatically on your birthday. Understand which pension scheme applies to you, how deferring can benefit you, and when to claim to maximize your income. Use the State Pension age calculator to verify timing, and be proactive in managing your retirement income.

FAQs about How Long After My 66th Birthday Will I Get My State Pension?

Do I receive State Pension as soon as I turn 66?

No, you must claim it. Payments begin 3–5 weeks after your chosen start date.

How many qualifying years do I need at age 66?

The Basic Pension lasts 30 years, whereas the New Pension lasts 35 years.

Can I defer after turning 66 and is it worth it?

Yes. Deferral increases your weekly pension significantly.

Will I pay tax on my State Pension at age 66?

Yes, if your income exceeds the personal allowance.

Can I keep working after starting my State Pension?

Yes, without affecting your State Pension.

What date is the State Pension paid this month?

Depends on your National Insurance number.

Is State Pension backdated to your birthday?

Only up to 12 months. After that, deferral rules apply.