Confused about how state pension actually gets paid out: weeks/months 48 to 52

Annemos

Good morning.

I have just had my pension claim decision. A very happy day indeed. (I am 66 in11 days time.)


I am confused. Does some adjustment happen, due to there being 52 weeks a year and not 48? 



1) My pension forcasts have always been in this format: here is the last one off the HMRC site: 


You can get your State Pension on 25 April 2022     Your forecast is £174.79 a week,     £760.02 a month,     £9,120.29 a year 

I have never noticed that 174.79  X  4   is NOT 760 pounds a month.     But 52 x 174.79 is about right for the 9,120 total a year. 

=====================================


2) Now my actual amounts have come today in the letter. I am to get 180.19 pounds per week.

(I happily agree with that). Paid around the 3rd or 6th of each month.

There will be a first short month paid out for 12 days (April 25 to May 6)  but then they write: 

Your second payment is for 720.76.     So now I notice that this IS indeed 4 times the 180.19 pounds a week. But on an annual basis this would only be giving me 48 weeks of pension if we get paid over 12 months. 


Am I missing something? When we are paid monthly, do they do a catch up later to bring us from 48 weeks to 52 weeks? Like a 13th month??


(I am assuming the forecast 175 went to 180 to account for the latest inflation rise of about 3 per cent?) 


Many thanks everyone. 

comeandgo

You get paid your state pension every 4 weeks so you get 13 payments.

Annemos

Oh thank you so much. It is that simple. 

I see. The first payment date is May 6th. Second is June 3rd. So does it always shift backwards a bit? 

(I am used to Belgian things where you get a 13th month!) 

Sorry..... I am obviously over complicating it. I understand. They are paying literally every 28 days. 

(Be happy I am not running the DOWP payments system!) 

Many thanks indeed for your help. 

comeandgo

Yes, it will always move backwards a bit as paid every 28 days though in July you will get paid on the 1st and 29 th

RG2015

Annemos said:

Oh thank you so much. It is that simple. 

I see. The first payment date is May 6th. Second is June 3rd. So does it always shift backwards a bit? 

(I am used to Belgian things where you get a 13th month!) 

Yes, it is a bit confusing, but you just add 28 days each time.

Fri 06/05/2022

Fri 03/06/2022

Fri 01/07/2022

Fri 29/07/2022

Fri 26/08/2022

Fri 23/09/2022

Fri 21/10/2022

Fri 18/11/2022

Fri 16/12/2022

Fri 13/01/2023

Fri 10/02/2023

Annemos

I am now offf to get a coffee and cake to celebrate. 



If anyone is watching this, who worked abroad for a few years: 

I submitted my application Dec 30, 2021 and it was accepted. I have just had the letter on 14 April. (It is dated 8 April.) Foreign period of work slowed it down a bit. I am incredibly happy that there is no sign of a backlog here, which some people experienced.)

Annemos

That is really useful to have those dates. 

Some must find it hard to tie in with their monthly fixed bills, but I suppose they can elect to get paid weekly. 

RG2015

Regarding your first post, the base amount is weekly, in your case £174.79 a week.

To convert to the annual amount, you divide by 7 and multiply by 365.25 =  £9,120.29.

To convert to the monthly amount you divide by 12 = £760.02.

The £180.19 is £760.02 multiplied by 1.031, which is the 3.1% inflation increase effective 11th April 2022.

Annemos

Thank you both for your time on this. 

molerat

Fri 01/07/2022  

Fri 29/07/2022

And July is your happy month

Annemos

Ha ha ha ha. Yes indeed!