Can I keep working after State Pension age?

For people who have reached State Pension age and want to continue working.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 30 September 2026

Yes. You can usually work as long as you want; there's no default retirement age.

You don't pay National Insurance once you're over State Pension age.
You may still pay Income Tax, depending on your total income.
You can claim your State Pension while working, or defer it for bigger payments later.
An employer can only force retirement with a good reason, like legal age limits.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

No forced retirement age
No National Insurance
Tax may still apply

Your rights at work

There is no longer a default retirement age, so your employer cannot make you retire just because of your age. Some jobs can still have a compulsory retirement age, but only if the employer has a good reason. You also do not have to give your date of birth when applying for jobs.

You can ask your employer to let you work more flexibly or part time. They can turn down your request.

National Insurance stops

You do not pay National Insurance once you reach State Pension age, even if you keep working.

If you are	What happens
An employee	Show your employer proof of your age, such as a birth certificate or passport, so they stop taking National Insurance. If you would rather not show documents, HMRC can send you a letter to give them instead.
Self-employed	You stop paying Class 4 National Insurance from 6 April after you reach State Pension age (the start of the next tax year).

If you have paid National Insurance you did not owe, you can claim it back.

Income tax still applies

You may still pay income tax. It depends on your total taxable income, including wages, State Pension and any private pension. Tax is due if this is more than your tax-free allowances. For 2026/27 the standard Personal Allowance is £12,570.

Example: you get the full new State Pension of £241.30 a week (about £12,548 a year) and also earn wages. Almost all of your Personal Allowance is used by your State Pension, so most of your wages will be taxed.

Contact HMRC if you think you are paying the wrong amount of tax.

Claim your State Pension or put it off

You can get your State Pension while you work. Or you can put off (defer) claiming it and get more later.

If you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016:

you get 1% more for every 9 weeks you defer
that is just under 5.8% for every 52 weeks
you must defer for at least 9 weeks to get extra

Example: you would get £241.30 a week. If you defer for 52 weeks, you get an extra £13.99 a week for life.

You cannot build up extra State Pension while you or your partner get certain benefits.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

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Common questions

Do I pay National Insurance if I work after State Pension age?

No. You do not pay National Insurance if you work past State Pension age.

Does delaying my State Pension increase it?

Yes. If you delay claiming, you get larger weekly payments when you start.

Can I ask to work part time after State Pension age?

Yes, you can ask for flexible or part-time working, but your employer can refuse.

What if I'm treated unfairly because of my age at work?

You're protected against age discrimination, and you can make a claim to an employment tribunal.

Source: Working after State Pension age

Checked against GOV.UK on 30 September 2026

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