The State Pension

The state pension is a vital source of income for millions of retired people across Britain. However, the system can be complex and it’s important that you know how it works.

The simplest way to understand what you may be entitled to and what you have built up to date is to login to your Government Gateway account and navigate to the “National Insurance & State Pension” option.

What are the basic rules?

To receive the basic state pension you must have paid or been credited with National Insurance contributions. This can apply to you where you were working and paid National Insurance contributions; you were receiving National Insurance credits for example if you were unemployed, ill or a parent or carer; or, you were paying voluntary National Insurance contributions.

You might also qualify if you have paid married women’s or widow’s reduced rate contributions.

You’ll usually need at least 10 full qualifying years on your National Insurance record to receive any state pension, but they do not have to be consecutive years to qualify. To receive the full state pension you will usually need 35 full qualifying years.

Once you reach the state pension age you do not need to stop working but you’ll no longer have to pay National Insurance.

How much is the state pension worth?

How much you receive depends on your National Insurance record, so the best way to see what you are and may be entitled to is to log into your Government Gateway account.

You may be able to increase your basic state pension through your spouse or registered civil partner’s entitlement or inherit some of your spouse or registered civil partner’s state pension when they die.

Older state pension regimes

The State pension has had many incarnations over the years and some people may be entitled to more than what the current state pension pays.

Check you entitlement online to see what applies to you.