The State Pension
The State Pension provides a regular income from the government for those who have reached State Pension Age. To be eligible for the State Pension, you have to have paid sufficient qualifying National Insurance contributions or received equivalent National Insurance credits.
New State Pension
A flat-rate State Pension came into effect from 6 April 2016, for people who reached State Pension Age on, or after, that date. This affects:
- Men born on, or after, 6 April 1951
- Women born on, or after, 6 April 1953
You’ll normally need at least ten qualifying years on your National Insurance record, or equivalent credits to get any State Pension. To get a full State Pension, you’ll need at least 35 years of qualifying National Insurance payments, or credits.
If you are born before the above dates, your State Pension Age will be based on the old rules. Visit Gov.uk for more information.
How much is the New State Pension?
The maximum flat-rate State Pension is £221.20 a week (rising to £230.25 a week from April 2025).
You might get less or more than the new maximum State Pension, if you had paid National Insurance contributions, or received credits, prior to 6 April 2016. A calculation will be carried out to determine the starting amount if you’ve already built up a National Insurance record.
This will be a comparison of the entitlements built up to date under the old State Pension, compared to the new State Pension. The higher of the two will be your foundation starting amount for the new State Pension.
If you were in contracted out-employment, at any time before 6 April 2016, you’ll find that a deduction has been made from the starting amount. This is because you will normally have paid National Insurance contributions at a lower rate whilst you were a member of a contracted-out pension scheme.
If your starting amount is less than £221.20 a week, you’ll be able to build up more State Pension for any further qualifying years, i.e. years where you pay or receive National Insurance contributions/credits from 6 April 2024, until you reach State Pension Age.