State pensioners born in certain years can get an extra £3,044 per year thanks to a state pension ‘top up’ for those on lower incomes.
The state pension is actually a complicated web of different pension tiers, based on age and income, which can radically alter the amount of money you’re paid by the state each week.
Those who are over 80 can get an extra top up, worth as much as £2,332 a year, in their state pension if they are only on the basic state pension.
The basic state pension is the pension given to those who began claiming their pension before April 2016.
The amount you get in your basic state pension depends on how many qualifying years of National Insurance records you have.
Those who have enough years to qualify for the basic state pension, but not the full amount, receive lower weekly payments.
For example, if you only partly qualify for the basic state pension, you could be paid just £43 a week.
But once you turn 80, so born in 1945, 1944 or earlier, you can get your pension income topped up to the full basic state pension, which is £108.55 a week, meaning an extra £3,044.60 per year in your pension pot.
If you had no basic state pension eligibility at all, the over-80s top up would give you £5,280.60 per year.
But you cannot get the over-80 pension if you hit state pension age after April 2016, because it is not part of the new state pension.
The new state pension is higher though, and currently pays £221 per week.
The over-80s pension top up for basic state pensioners is counted as taxable income (just as the regular pension is), so could affect eligibility for other benefits like Pension Credit.
Gov.uk explains: “The over 80 pension is a State Pension for people aged 80 or over.
“To be eligible you must get either a basic State Pension of less than £101.55 a week, or no basic State Pension at all.
“It can give you £101.55 a week in the 2024 to 2025 tax year.
“For example, you’re 80 years old and you get £43 a week basic State Pension, your basic State Pension may be topped up by £58.55 to £101.55 a week.”
You need to have been a resident of the UK for at least 10 years or more to qualify.
To claim, call the Pension Service on 0800 731 7898.
