Can you defer your State Pension after claiming it?

Yes, you can usually stop a State Pension you have started to claim, once, and build up extra pension while it is stopped.

That answers whether you can defer your State Pension after claiming it, but the details differ by when you reached State Pension age, and a second stop is not allowed. The Pension Service arranges the stop itself. Pausing can nudge your tax bill and any means-tested help, so it may pay to sketch the numbers with an FCA-authorised adviser before ringing DWP; one will phone you for free after you've used the form on this page.

Can you defer your State Pension after you have started claiming it?

You can, in the sense that you can ask DWP to suspend payments. For the new State Pension, the Pensions Act 2014 says a person who has become entitled to a state pension "may opt to suspend his or her entitlement in accordance with regulations", and that they "may not opt to suspend" on "more than one occasion". For the basic State Pension, held by those who hit State Pension age ahead of 6 April 2016, the Social Security (Widow's Benefit and Retirement Pensions) Regulations 1979 let you elect to be treated as if you had not become entitled, and rule out a second election. DWP's factsheet for that group puts it plainly: "You can only stop claiming once."

So there is one go. Stopping, restarting and stopping again is not possible, which makes the choice of when to restart more important than the choice to stop. The Pension Service can confirm how the rule applies to your own claim before you give notice.

DWP's factsheet for the basic State Pension adds two limits. You must normally live in the UK to stop it, though some people living in an EEA country may have the option. And you normally have to put off all of it; the exceptions it describes involve Graduated Retirement Benefit and shared additional pension, so ask the Pension Service if either applies to you.

How do you stop your State Pension once you are getting it?

You give notice to DWP, in writing or by phone. For the new State Pension, the State Pension Regulations 2015 say notice goes to an office or a telephone number that DWP has specified to you in writing, and DWP can direct that it must be in writing; for the basic State Pension, the 1979 regulations likewise allow a phone call unless DWP directs otherwise. GOV.UK gives the Pension Service number as 0800 731 0469, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (not public holidays); the postal address is on its contact page.

You choose the date the stop starts, within limits. For the new State Pension it can be any date from the day you give notice up to 28 days after it. The 1979 regulations set the same window for the basic State Pension: the day you give notice, or a later date you name up to 28 days after it. If you name no date, the day you gave notice is used.

For the new State Pension, the 2015 regulations also let you cancel a suspension by claiming again while it is in place, and the cancellation can cover a past period of up to 12 months. For the basic State Pension, the 1979 regulations say nothing is payable from the date of your election until you become entitled again. What that does to your extra pension and any back pay on your particular claim is something DWP calculates; an adviser can talk that through with your other income if you leave your details, at no cost.

How much extra State Pension do you build up while it is stopped?

The extra is the same as for anyone who deferred from the start, and it is counted in whole weeks. The rates depend on when you reached State Pension age.

• New State Pension (State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016). GOV.UK says you must defer for at least 9 weeks before you can claim increased regular payments. For every 9 weeks you defer you get 1% added to your weekly pension for life, which works out as just under 5.8% for every 52 weeks.
• Basic State Pension (older cohort). You must defer for at least 5 weeks, then 1% is added for every 5 weeks, just under 10.4% for every 52 weeks. Deferring for at least 12 months also opens up a taxable lump sum in place of higher weekly payments, which the State Pension lump sum page covers.

New State Pension claimants can instead take up to 52 weeks of deferred pension as a one-off arrears payment, with no interest, and any longer deferral becomes extra weekly pension. After you restart, the extra amount usually rises each year in line with the Consumer Price Index. The rates are compared in how much extra State Pension you get for each year you defer, and for longer-term limits how long you can defer.

Extra State Pension counts as income for tax. Whether the State Pension is taxable explains how it is collected.

How does stopping your State Pension affect benefits?

Stopping can change what else you receive. GOV.UK lists benefits that stop you building up extra State Pension for any period you get them, among them Carer's Allowance, Pension Credit, Universal Credit and the income-related version of Employment and Support Allowance, and the same goes for a partner who gets Pension Credit, Universal Credit or the income-related allowance. It also tells anyone on benefits who wants to defer that they must let the Pension Service know. Time on those benefits does not count towards the minimum weeks before your pension starts to increase.

When you restart, taking the extra as higher weekly payments could reduce Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-related ESA, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, according to GOV.UK, and a lump sum on the older basic pension may reduce Universal Credit. DWP's factsheet for the basic State Pension adds that if you claim Pension Credit while putting off your State Pension, DWP will work out Pension Credit as if you were getting the State Pension. More on that sits in the State Pension and other benefits and Housing Benefit and a deferred State Pension. Where benefits make up part of your income, ask for a call-back before giving notice and an adviser will go through how the two fit together.

Common questions about stopping a State Pension you have claimed

How many times can I defer my State Pension?

Once, if you have already started claiming. The Pensions Act 2014 bars a second suspension for the new State Pension, and the 1979 regulations bar a second election for the basic State Pension, so you cannot defer twice. If you had not claimed at all, you simply deferred from State Pension age, which has its own limits.

Can I stop part of my State Pension?

Normally no; the whole pension is put off. DWP's factsheet describes narrow exceptions for Graduated Retirement Benefit and shared additional pension.

Can I stop my State Pension if I live abroad?

Not normally on the basic State Pension: DWP's factsheet says you must normally live in the UK to stop it, with a possible exception for some people living in EEA countries. For the new State Pension, or to check your own case, contact the International Pension Centre.

Does stopping change my Winter Fuel Payment?

GOV.UK says anyone who has deferred needs to claim Winter Fuel Payment, once. The wider decision is in whether deferring is worth it.

Is it better to stop or to carry on claiming?

That depends on your health, other income and tax. Pension Wise only covers defined contribution pots, so for this decision start with the Pension Service. Our Pension Wise page explains what it can help with, and the State Pension guide sets out the basics.