Part 1

State pension

Postponing or suspending state pension

Pensioner's option to suspend state pension
16
1
A person who has become entitled to a state pension under this Part may opt to suspend his or her entitlement in accordance with regulations.
2
A person is not entitled to any state pension under this Part for the period for which the person has opted to suspend his or her entitlement.
3
For other effects of a person exercising the option, see section 17.
4
A person may not opt to suspend his or her entitlement to a state pension under this Part on more than one occasion.
5
Regulations may specify other circumstances in which a person may not opt to suspend his or her entitlement to a state pension under this Part.
6
Regulations may allow a person who has opted to suspend his or her entitlement to a state pension under this Part to cancel the exercise of that option (in whole or in part) in relation to a past period.
Pt. 1 excluded by S.I. 2007/1398, reg. 8(3) as amended (6.4.2016 coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2)(b)) by The Pensions Act 2014 (Consequential, Supplementary and Incidental Amendments) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1985), arts. 1(2)(b), 30(4)(a)
S. 16 in force at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into force earlier by an order, see s. 56(1)(4)
Pt. 1 modified (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Northern Ireland Reciprocal Arrangements) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/287), regs. 1, 2(2)(h), Sch.
Pts. 1, 5 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Iceland) (Liechtenstein) (Norway) (Citizens' Rights Agreement) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1302), art. 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Pts. 1, 5 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Iceland) (Liechtenstein) (Norway) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1060), art. 2, Sch.
S. 16(1)(6) in force at 5.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/134, art. 2(1)(4)(d)
Pt. 1 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Ireland) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/622), art. 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Pt. 1 modified (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Reciprocal Agreements) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/158), arts. 1, 2, Sch. 1, Sch. 2
Pt. 1 modified (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Reciprocal Agreement) (Isle of Man) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/157), arts. 1, 2, Sch.
Pts. 1, 5 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Switzerland) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1088), art. 2(1)-(3), Sch.
Pts. 1, 5 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Switzerland) (Citizens' Rights Agreement) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1303), art. 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Pt. 1 modified (1.1.2021) by The Social Security (Norway) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1597), arts. 1, 2(1)(2), Sch. (with art. 2(3))