Early / Late Retirement and the State Pension

You may decide for personal reasons that you would like to take early or late retirement. Perhaps you have developed a serious illness or suffered a disability, and feel that you cannot continue to work. Perhaps you have reviewed your retirement plans (see Retirement Plans) and have decided that taking late retirement is a good way to fill a pension gap (see Closing a Pension Gap). You are not able to begin claiming your basic or second State Pension (see Basic State Pension and State Second Pension for details) before you have reached State Pension Age (see State Pension Age). However, there are other state benefits (see State Benefits) which are available if you are no longer able to work. For more information see Early Retirement and the State Pension. If you decide to defer drawing your pension you may be entitled to claim a larger basic pension or a one-off lump sum when you do decide to begin; for more information see Late Retirement and the State Pension.