State pension award

eastcorkram

They do not explain how the amount was reached though. You can query it if you're not happy with it. As mine is a bit more than current new state pension, presumably something to do with SERPS or whatever from the pre 2016 years. 
My forecast has shown to be more than the NSP for at least the last 3 years. As of today, I have 34 full years. So must have reached the maximum at around 31 years. 

Nebulous2

I received a letter recently telling me I can expect my pension from my 67th birthday, which is still over 3 years away, and they will write to me again nearer the time. 

I felt it was a bit random, but may have been put in place because of all the people previously claiming they were unaware the age was changing. 

QrizB

eastcorkram said:

My forecast has shown to be more than the NSP for at least the last 3 years. As of today, I have 34 full years. So must have reached the maximum at around 31 years. 

If your forecast is more than the NSP, you probably reached it before 2016 (before the NSP was introduced). I don't think there's any way to exceed the NSP on the strength of years after 2016.

p00hsticks

eastcorkram said:

They do not explain how the amount was reached though. You can query it if you're not happy with it. As mine is a bit more than current new state pension, presumably something to do with SERPS or whatever from the pre 2016 years. 
My forecast has shown to be more than the NSP for at least the last 3 years. As of today, I have 34 full years. So must have reached the maximum at around 31 years. 

If it's more than the NSP then it will have been that way since its introduction in 2016 - under the new rules the only way you can get more than the maximum is if your individual 'starting amount'  calculated at the time was higher than the new maximum and so you had a 'protected payment'. 

The_Green_Hornet

Qyburn said:

A shame that claiming online doesn't allow weekly payment. 

It doesn't but you may be able to register for Manage your State Pension and you can change payment frequency there.

ali_bear

Being paid every four weeks is just so clunky. And does anyone live on a weekly hand-to-mouth basis anymore? Perhaps this is what being a pensioner is all about. Hmm lots to look forward to. 

Are they worried that, if they switched to monthly payments, the OAP's would think February is a special month and blow all the money at bingo?

JoeCrystal

ali_bear said:

Being paid every four weeks is just so clunky. And does anyone live on a weekly hand-to-mouth basis anymore? Perhaps this is what being a pensioner is all about. Hmm lots to look forward to. 

Are they worried that, if they switched to monthly payments, the OAP's would think February is a special month and blow all the money at bingo?

ali_bear said:

Being paid every four weeks is just so clunky. And does anyone live on a weekly hand-to-mouth basis anymore? Perhaps this is what being a pensioner is all about. Hmm lots to look forward to. 

Are they worried that, if they switched to monthly payments, the OAP's would think February is a special month and blow all the money at bingo?

I know quite a few people who still get paid weekly, the Royal Mail employees for example!

xylophone

They do not explain how the amount was reached though. You can query it if you're not happy with it. As mine is a bit more than current new state pension, presumably something to do with SERPS or whatever from the pre 2016 years. 
My forecast has shown to be more than the NSP for at least the last 3 years. As of today, I have 34 full years. So must have reached the maximum at around 31 years. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81333846/#Comment_81333846

sheramber

ali_bear said:

Being paid every four weeks is just so clunky. And does anyone live on a weekly hand-to-mouth basis anymore? Perhaps this is what being a pensioner is all about. Hmm lots to look forward to. 

Are they worried that, if they switched to monthly payments, the OAP's would think February is a special month and blow all the money at bingo?

State pension is based on a weekly rate and used to be paid weekly by collecting it in cash from the Post Office.  You had a payment book with a slip for each week  showing the payment due and the date it was payable. It could be collected any time after that date. 

When it was set up people were generally paid weekly .

When it was changed to being paid into bank 4 weekly payments introduced. 

Eldi_Dos

ali_bear said:

Being paid every four weeks is just so clunky. And does anyone live on a weekly hand-to-mouth basis anymore? Perhaps this is what being a pensioner is all about. Hmm lots to look forward to. 

Are they worried that, if they switched to monthly payments, the OAP's would think February is a special month and blow all the money at bingo?

It is a bit quirky at first but if you budget accordingly and treat the thirteenth payment as a bonus it is quite nice, especially if it lands in February which is the first of our two Council Tax free months.