The State Pension is a regular payment you can receive when you reach State Pension age. How much you get varies depending on the age of the individual and their National Insurance contribution record.

The rules for The State Pension changed radically on 6 April 2016. It is worked out based on your gender and date of birth. 

THE BASIC STATE PENSION

The basic State Pension is payable to men born before 6 April 1951, and to women born before 6 April 1953.

The maximum amount payable is £156.20 per week.

THE NEW STATE PENSION

The new State Pension is payable to men born on or after 6 April 1951, and to women born on or after 6 April 1953.

The maximum amount payable is £203.85 per week.

NATIONAL INSURANCE RECORD

The State Pension is a 'contribution-based' benefit, and depends on an individual's National Insurance (NI) contribution history. To qualify for a full pension (amounts given above), an individual would require:

• basic State Pension: 30 qualifying years (years in which NI contributions were paid),
  
• new State Pension: 35 qualifying years (years in which 52 weeks of NI contributions were paid; if only 51 or fewer weeks' NI were paid, the whole year is discounted) from 6 April 2016.
  

A smaller, pro rata, pension is paid to someone with fewer qualifying years. People who were contracted-out paid lower NI contributions and will receive a lower state pension.

You usually get qualifying years if you're:

• In full-time or part-time paid work
• self-employed and pay Class 2 National Insurance Contributions
• caring for someone for over 20 hours a week
• getting Child Benefit
• receiving certain benefits
• in full-time training

PENSION UPRATING

The Basic State Pension is increasing in April each year to pensioners living in the UK and in certain overseas countries which have a Social Security Agreement with the UK that includes British pension uprating.

Pensioners living in other overseas countries without a current agreement have their pensions frozen at the rate in effect on the date when they left the UK, or on the date when they applied for a pension, whichever is later.

STATE PENSION AGE

The state pension age (SPA) is presently 66.

The Pensions Act 2011 raised the SPA to 66 for both men and women from 6 October 2020.

Under the Pensions Act 2007, the SPA will be raised to 68 between 2044 and 2046.

Under the Pensions Act 2014, the Government brought forward the rise in State Pension age to 67 to 6 April 2028. 

 Please call our office on 07789758177 / 02082211165, and we will help you find out if you are eligible to receive State Pension.