State pension payments are regularly altered throughout the year under official government schedules, with October having dramatic changes. This month, the state pension age rose to 66 and affect many more people than usual.
State pension age increases are usually made incrementally and affect people born between narrow birthdate ranges of around a month or so.
However, on October 6, thousands more people than usual saw their state pension age rise.
On this date, anyone born between October 6 1954 and April 5 1960 saw their state pension age rise from 65 to 66.
Going forward, retirees will see their state pension age rise around their 66th year, with people born between April 6 1960 and May 5 1960 reaching their state pension age when they are 66 years and one month old.
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This means weekly payments for those receiving the full state pension may increase to £179.58.
To be eligible for this amount, a minimum of 35 years of National Insurance contributions will have had to have been built up.
In order to receive anything from a state pension, a minimum of 10 years will be needed.
The government provides free-to-use tools on their website which can allow people to check on their National Insurance record and top it up if need be.
It should be noted state pensions will not be paid out automatically even when a person reaches their retirement age, it will need to be claimed.
According to the government, the quickest way to get a state pension is to claim online.
However, state pensions can also be claimed over the phone or by completing a form and posting it to a local pension centre.
As a state pension is received, a person will no longer need to may National Insurance but they may still be liable to pay certain taxes.
— to www.express.co.uk
