Reviewed by Mustafa Bilgic
Founder, WebCalculator
Deferral rules and 2026/27 rates follow GOV.UK and regulation 10 of the State Pension Regulations 2015, checked on 24 September 2026. Estimates only, not financial advice.
Waiting to claim your State Pension raises your weekly payment for life. Enter your weekly amount and how long you might wait to see the extra pension, the one-off arrears option and how many years it takes to get your money back.
2026/27 State Pension rates
If you do not claim your State Pension when you reach State Pension age, it is deferred automatically. For the new State Pension, you must defer for at least 9 weeks before your pension goes up, and every 9 weeks adds 1% to your weekly payment for life. The State Pension Regulations 2015 set the increase at one-ninth of 1% for each week, which works out at just under 5.8% for a full year.
| Deferral | Increase | Extra a week on £241.30 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 weeks | 1.00% | £2.41 |
| 26 weeks | 2.89% | £6.97 |
| 52 weeks (1 year) | 5.78% | £13.94 |
| 104 weeks (2 years) | 11.56% | £27.88 |
| 156 weeks (3 years) | 17.33% | £41.82 |
GOV.UK's own example rounds a year to 5.8%, which gives an extra £13.99 a week on the full new State Pension of £241.30 rather than the £13.94 above. The small gap is only rounding.
If you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, you can take up to 52 weeks of deferred pension as a one-off arrears payment, with no interest added, and any longer deferral as extra weekly pension. GOV.UK's example: deferring the full new State Pension for 78 weeks can give an arrears payment of £12,547.60 plus an extra £6.97 a week for the other 26 weeks.
Before tax and yearly increases, it takes 900 weeks, about 17 years and 16 weeks, of the higher payment to earn back the new State Pension you gave up. The figure is the same however long you defer, because the extra pension grows in step with what you give up. GOV.UK puts it this way: it takes over 15 years to get back 52 weeks of deferred full new State Pension.
The extra amount usually rises each year in line with the Consumer Prices Index, and like the rest of your State Pension it counts towards your taxable income. Deferring tends to make more sense if you do not need the money yet, for example because you are still working.
The older basic State Pension rules pay more for waiting: your pension goes up by 1% for every 5 weeks you defer, just under 10.4% a year, after a minimum of 5 weeks. GOV.UK's example: deferring the full basic State Pension of £184.90 for 52 weeks adds £19.22 a week. If you defer for at least 12 months you can choose a one-off lump sum instead, which includes interest at 2% above the Bank of England base rate. Choose the basic State Pension in the calculator to see these figures.
Find the date you can first claim with the State Pension age calculator, check the amount you have built up with the State Pension calculator, and see how the extra income would be taxed with the Income Tax calculator.
For the new State Pension, 1% for every 9 weeks, which is one-ninth of 1% a week and just under 5.8% for a full year. On the full rate of £241.30, deferring for a year adds about £13.94 a week.
At least 9 weeks for the new State Pension and at least 5 weeks for the basic State Pension. A shorter deferral does not increase your weekly pension.
Under the new State Pension you can take up to 52 weeks as a one-off arrears payment, with no interest, and any longer deferral as extra weekly pension. Under the basic State Pension, deferring for at least 12 months lets you choose a lump sum that includes interest at 2% above the Bank of England base rate.
For the new State Pension, about 17 years of the higher payment, before tax and yearly increases. GOV.UK says it takes over 15 years to get back 52 weeks of deferred full new State Pension.
Usually yes, in line with the Consumer Prices Index. It does not go up for some people who live abroad.
No. If you do not claim at State Pension age, your pension defers automatically. If you get benefits, contact the Pension Service first, because you cannot build up extra State Pension while you or your partner get some benefits.