State pensioners are being told by the DWP that they might be eligible to boost the money they receive each month if they meet the criteria. Older retirees may be able to claim some extra money through an Over 80 pension, but only if they already receive less than a certain cap.
The Over 80 pension is a state pension for people aged 80 or over who get either a basic State Pension of less than £105.70 a week, or no basic State Pension at all. It boosts your existing pension with an additional £422 per month.
You can claim the over 80 pension if all of the following apply:
you're 80 or over
you do not get basic State Pension or your basic State Pension is less than £105.70 a week in 2025 to 2026
you were 'ordinarily resident' in the UK, the Isle of Man or Gibraltar on your 80th birthday or the date you made the claim for this pension, if later
The monthly top-up is designed to provide a much-needed financial boost to the income of the oldest pensioners in the UK.
It can give you £105.70 a week in the 2025 to 2026 tax year.
What you get depends on how much basic State Pension you get, if any. If you do not get the basic State Pension or you get less than £105.70 a week, you could get the difference paid up to this amount.
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 £62.70 to £105.70 a week.
The benefit aims to help older pensioners who receive a total weekly income of less than £176.45, or nothing at all, by providing a financial safety net.The DWP confirmed that claiming this pension can give eligible older individuals a much-needed boost to their finances.
It is separate from the basic State Pension, which is for men born before 6 April 1951 and women born before 6 April 1953 who have enough National Insurance (NI) qualifying years.
An NI qualifying year is one in which you worked and paid NI, got NI Credits, for example you were unemployed, sick or a parent or carer, or paid voluntary NI contributions.
