Pensioners and people reaching state pension age before April 6 2016 will be able to boost their state pension by up to £25 per week by making a lump sum contribution.

But is the new state pension top-up scheme right for you?

How do I know if I'm eligible for the state pension top-up?

In order to qualify, a man must have been born before April 6 1951 and a woman must have been born before April 6 1953, as well as being eligible for a UK state pension.

How long will the extra payments from state pension top-up continue - and will they be affected by inflation?

The extra pension from topping up will last for the lifetime of the person who contributes and may be inheritable by a surviving spouse or civil partner.

Top-up payments are also linked to the Consumer Price Index, to protect them against inflation.

How much do I need to contribute in order to top up my state pension?

This will depend on two factors - how much extra pension you want to get each week and how old you are when you make the contribution.

The older someone is when they apply, the lower the lump sum contribution will be.

You can find out how much someone may need to contribute by using an online calculator at www.gov.uk/state-pension-topup.

You can choose to top up your state pension by between £1 and £25 per week.

In one theoretical example given by the Government, a 68-year-old man decides he wants to get an extra £5 a week or £260 a year on his state pension.

The contribution needed for an extra £1 per week by a 68-year-old is £827. So to get an extra £5 a week, the contribution needs to be five times £827. So the man needs to make a lump sum contribution of £4,135.

What about inheritance?

Spouses or civil partners can, in most cases, inherit between 50 per cent and 100 per cent of a top-up in the event that their partner dies before them.

State pension top-up is inherited under the same rules as additional state pension.

More information on inheriting additional state pension can be found at www.gov.uk/additional-state-pension/further-information.

Will I miss out if I don't apply quickly?

No, unlike the hugely-popular "pensioner bonds", where a specific pot of money was put aside when they launched, there is an 18-month window to apply for this deal, so there is no need to rush.

The top-up scheme is available until April 5 2017.

Is the new top-up right for everyone?

Not necessarily. It will depend on your own circumstances. Making a top-up contribution could affect any income-related benefits that someone is getting, such as pension credit.

It may also be unsuitable for people who are in poorer health or have a lower life expectancy.

People who are considering making such a contribution may want to consider getting financial advice.