State pension

MABLE

My partner is due his state pension on the Sat 5 September and wants to take it very 4 weeks. However it would start from Monday 7 September and by the end of September that would only be 3 weeks.

Would they pay the 3 weeks or wait for the 4th week which should start in October.

greenglide

The first payment would normally be for one, two, three or four weeks, ending on a payday and of the length to put his on the correct renewal cycle.

There is nothing you can do about this. The payday (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or friday) and the renewal cycle (which determines which of the four weeks he is actually paid in) are both determined by the NINO but using different algorithms.

And you don't get paid for any "odd days" between the birthday reaching SPa and the following payday unless you are on a working age benefit during the run up to SPa.

When you get the award details from DWP as a result of claiming this notification gives details of the precise periods being paid in the first and subsequent payments.

MABLE

My partner has checked and the first payment would be 14 September and then are 4 weekly in arrears. However he was advised he could take it weekly in arrears and seems to think this would be the better option as he would get his pension quicker.

Are there any known drawbacks in having it weekly we cannot not see.

All help very much appreciated.

greenglide

There is no downside to weekly payments, apart from the increased cost to DWP to provide the payments. Payment four weekly is the DWP default method and the Pensions Service staff are not supposed to offer weekly payments unless asked.

The four weekly payments can be harder for recipients to manage, especially if it is the only income they have, as it does not fit nicely with monthly direct debits for gas, electricity, council tax etc.

It is all a hangover from the days of Order Books!

MABLE

greenglide wrote: »

There is no downside to weekly payments, apart from the increased cost to DWP to provide the payments. Payment four weekly is the DWP default method and the Pensions Service staff are not supposed to offer weekly payments unless asked.

The four weekly payments can be harder for recipients to manage, especially if it is the only income they have, as it does not fit nicely with monthly direct debits for gas, electricity, council tax etc.

It is all a hangover from the days of Order Books!

Thanks again for your help. He already gets private pensions that are paid monthly and thought for the sake of budgeting a weekly amount would come in useful.

kidmugsy

We have found it wonderfully convenient to receive weekly payments. They roughly mirror part of our outgoings. Monthly occupational pensions likewise. And occasional withdrawals from SIPPs too.