Retirees can change their state pension payments as bills climb | Personal Finance | Finance

State pension payments are usually made every four weeks, with the exact day of the week depending on the last two digits of your National Insurance number. However, a little-known method can change the frequency of these payments, which could make managing rising bills this month a bit easier.

You could receive your state pension monthly, weekly or fortnightly, according to ex-DWP worker Sandra Wrench. Speaking to the Daily Record, she revealed you can make this change if you’re already claiming state pension or even if you’re yet to receive a payment.

If you already receive state pension payments, Sandra recommended going to the Pension Service first using the phone number 0800 731 0469 and requesting weekly payments.

You can also write to the Pension Service, Post Handling Site A, Wolverhampton WV98 1AF.

You’ll need to share your name, address and National Insurance number and ask for your state pension payments to be changed to weekly payments.

Sandra added: “If you are yet to claim your State Pension, put in the information box on the State Pension claim form ‘Please pay my pension weekly’.”

It can be difficult for retirees to adjust to their state pension income as it isn’t paid on the same day every month like a usual salary is.

This can make it harder to budget and if you have bills coming off weekly it may be problematic.

This month, a number of bills are rising including council tax, energy and water bills.

However, state pension payments are also rising by 4.1% this month thanks to the triple lock policy.

This will up the full new state pension to £230.25 per week, up from £221.20.