Older state pensioners are set to receive an extra £422 per month as part of the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) initiative to support retirees aged 80 and over. Known as the ‘Over 80 Pension,’ this top-up helps those whose basic State Pension falls below £105.70 per week or who have no basic State Pension at all.
To qualify for the full new State Pension of £176.45 per week, men born between 1945 and 1951 typically require 30 qualifying National Insurance (NI) years, whereas those born before 1945 need 44 qualifying years. For women, the requirement is 30 qualifying years if born between 1950 and 1953, or 39 qualifying years if born before 1950. Pensioners with fewer qualifying years receive a proportionally lower basic State Pension.
The DWP’s Over 80 Pension bridges this gap by topping up weekly payments to at least £105.70. For the 2025 to 2026 tax year, this means retirees can receive an additional £62.70 per week, or roughly £422.80 monthly. For example, someone aged 80 receiving £43 a week in basic State Pension would have their payment increased to the £105.70 threshold.
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Unlike other pension benefits, eligibility for the Over 80 Pension is not tied to National Insurance contributions. To claim it, pensioners can request a claim form from local Jobcentre Plus offices or contact the Pension Service directly at 0800 731 7898. Claims can be filed as early as three months before turning 80.
Personal finance expert Amy Knight from NerdWallet UK highlights the importance of this support amid ongoing concerns about pension funding. She notes that roughly a quarter of government spending goes toward social security, including the State Pension and other benefits like Universal Credit. Despite financial pressures, major political parties have committed to maintaining the ‘triple lock’ guarantee, which protects State Pension increases from lagging behind inflation, average earnings, or a 2.5% minimum increase.
Knight also points to the Bank of England’s forecast that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation could reach 3.7% later this year, driving up costs for essential goods and services. Should this inflation rate hold, pensioners could see an approximate £8.50 weekly increase in the full new State Pension and around £6.50 weekly rise for the basic State Pension next year, providing crucial support for older retirees.