A person who has become entitled to a state pension under this Part may opt to suspend his or her entitlement in accordance with regulations.

A person is not entitled to any state pension under this Part for the period for which the person has opted to suspend his or her entitlement.

For other effects of a person exercising the option, see section 17.

A person may not opt to suspend his or her entitlement to a state pension under this Part on more than one occasion.

Regulations may specify other circumstances in which a person may not opt to suspend his or her entitlement to a state pension under this Part.

Regulations may allow a person who has opted to suspend his or her entitlement to a state pension under this Part to cancel the exercise of that option (in whole or in part) in relation to a past period.