Transitional rate of pension

The transitional rate started in 2009. It's for pensioners who would get a lower pension rate if we used the new income test.

If you were getting a pension on 19 September 2009, we may still be paying you at the transitional rate.

We regularly reassess what is the correct rate of pension for you. To help us decide this, we use the current income test and the assets test. We work out if you’re eligible for a higher rate of pension by comparing the results under both the:

  • transitional rate
  • current rate.

If the current rate is the same or higher than the transitional rate, we’ll pay you the current rate instead. This can happen if your income or assets change. It’s important you let us know if there’s been a change.

You can’t go back to the transitional rate once you get the current rate of pension.

A service officer or Financial Information Service officer can explain how we work out your rate of pension.

Page last updated: 9 August 2023.
QC 29296