The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that younger state pensioners will receive £965 payments in October. This amount is based on the new, or full, state pension rate of £241 per week, which is paid every four weeks.
For those receiving the new state pension, the weekly rate of £241 translates to a monthly payment of £965. The DWP schedules these payments to land in bank accounts during October.
State Pension age changes from April 2026
The official State Pension age in the UK is no longer a fixed number. While it remained at 66 for several years, a legislated increase began a phased roll-out on 6 April 2026. This change is gradually shifting the country toward a standard State Pension age of 67 by March 2028.
Whether you are affected, and by how much, depends entirely on your date of birth. The government’s online State Pension age calculator can provide your exact date. This is important because “roughly 67” is not precise enough when planning retirement income and budgeting.
How to claim your State Pension
Claiming online is the quickest and easiest method to claim your State Pension. You can visit the GOV.UK website to access the online service. You will need your National Insurance number and the invitation code from the letter you received.
Alternatively, you can call the Pension Service on 0800 731 7898. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. A friend or family member can call on your behalf if you are unable to.
Claim timing and backdating rules
To start receiving your money, your first step is to make a claim. The best practice is to do this around four months before the month you turn State Pension age. If you miss this window, you can backdate your claim by up to 12 months, but your claim cannot be backdated to a time before you reached State Pension age.
If you are within three months of your State Pension age and haven’t received an invitation letter, call the Pension Service to request one or make a claim. You will need your National Insurance number for any process you follow to claim.
