How State Pensioners can boost DWP State Pension and income beyond retirement
While this amount is ample to live comfortably and cover basic costs for the majority of people, many will not receive this amount.
It's vital to boost National Insurance years and maximise savings wherever possible to ensure that when you retire, you have plenty to fall back on.
Read more: Parents warned of 'hidden crisis' as childcare costs push 1 in 6 to credit cards
Gov.uk details three ways Brits can boost their pension pot.
Adding back National Insurance Years
Gaps in your National Insurance contributions can have a significantly negative impact on your State Pension amount.
While National Insurance is a social security contribution paid by employers, employees, and self-employed workers to the government, there are many cases when people miss contributions for various reasons.
To add these contributions back, and therefore boost your State Pensions, you can:
Get National Insurance credits
Make voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill gaps in your record
Work and pay National Insurance contributions until you reach State Pension age
Delay your State Pension
For every year that you hold back claiming State Pension, payments can rise by 'just under 5.8 per cent'.
The government explains: "Your State Pension will increase every week you delay (defer) claiming it, as long as you defer for at least nine weeks.
"You cannot build up this extra State Pension if you get certain benefits. Deferring can also affect how much you can get in benefits."
Pension Credit
The DWP offers Pension Credit to help boost people's payments and assist with living expenses.
There are two forms available: Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.
Guarantee Credit boosts your weekly income to a specified minimum,
Savings Credit offers extra money if you have savings or an income exceeding the basic State Pension.
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