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Qualifying for basic State Pension

You can get a basic State Pension base on the qualifying years of National Insurance contributions (NICs) you have. Find out more about how you can get a basic State Pension and when you can get it.

When can you get a basic State Pension?

State Pension age is the earliest you can get a basic State Pension. You have to claim it. You can also choose to put off claiming (defer) and take your State Pension later.

If you choose to defer you could get extra State Pension or a lump-sum payment as well as your State Pension when you do claim.

Changes to State Pension age

The age you receive your State Pension could be changing. To find out if you are affected, see 'Calculating your State Pension age'.

Will you get a basic State Pension?

You can get a basic State Pension by paying or being credited with enough National Insurance contributions (NICs) towardsqualifying years before State Pension age.

In 2012-13, you need to have £5,564 or more of such earnings if:

  • you're an employee
  • you're paying National Insurance Contributions as a self-employed person

You can get an idea of how many qualifying years you have and what this means for you by using the State Pension profiler. This simple tool helps you estimate quickly how much basic State Pension you may become entitled based on your NICs to date. It will also tell you when you can get it. It will also help you see how you're affected by recent changes to the State Pension.

How many qualifying years do you need?

The number of qualifying years you need for a full basic State Pension depends on your age and whether you are a man or a woman.

Men born before 6 April 1945 usually need 44 qualifying years.

Women born before 6 April 1950 usually need 39 qualifying years.

Men born on or after 6 April 1945 need 30 qualifying years.

Women born on or after 6 April 1950 need 30 qualifying years.

To find out more about the State Pension, you can download the leaflet 'State Pensions – Your guide'.

If you've been a parent or carer

If you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010 you may be able to get new National Insurance (NI) credits. These NI credits allow you to become entitled to the State Pension. You may be eligible for NI credits if you are:

  • a parent with a dependent child under 12 years of age
  • an approved foster carer
  • caring for at least 20 hours per week for one or more severely disabled people

Up until 5 April 2010, many people who cared for others were eligible for Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP). HRP helped protect your State Pension entitlement for years when you were not working or your earnings were low. If you reach State Pension age after 5 April 2010, you will receive NI credits rather than HRP.

The new credits replaced HRP from 6 April 2010. If you have years of HRP before 6 April 2010 then up to 22 of these years will have automatically been converted into NI credits. These NI credits will then count towards your basic State Pension.

If you've been claiming benefit

You will automatically receive National Insurance credits for the weeks you’ve been claiming the following benefits (if you have paid enough National Insurance contributions):

  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Employment and Support Allowance

To find out more, contact the National Insurance contributions office.

How much is the basic State Pension?

To find out how much basic State Pension you may get, see ‘State Pension and Pension Credit rate: how much can you get?’.

If you don't qualify for the full basic State Pension

If you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010

If you have some qualifying years but not enough for a full basic State Pension then you will get some basic State Pension. For each qualifying year that you have built up, you will get some basic State Pension.You may be able to take action to increase your State Pension if you don't have enough qualifying years.

If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2010

You’ll get a weekly basic State Pension between the minimum (£26.86 in 2012-13) and the maximum £107.45 in 2012-13) If:

  • you don’t qualify for the full basic State Pension
  • you have 25 per cent or more of the qualifying years

If you have fewer than 25 per cent of the qualifying years, you'll not be entitled to any basic State Pension using your own National Insurance contribution record. However, you may be able to take action to increase your State Pension. Read ‘Do you need to top up your National Insurance contributions’ to find out more.

You may be able to get a 'non-contributory' or 'Over 80 Pension' if you're aged 80 or more and meet the residency conditions. This is £64.40 a week for 2012-13.

If you are or have been married or in a civil partnership

You may be entitled to some basic State Pension through the National Insurance record of either:

Pension Credit

If you're a pensioner living in Northern Ireland, Pension Credit could top up your weekly income to a guaranteed minimum of:

  • £142.70 if you are single
  • £217.90 if you have a partner

The age from which youmay get Pension Credit is changing. To find out more about Pension Credit see 'Pension Credit - an introduction'.

Claiming your State Pension

The Pension Service should automatically send you a letter on how to claim your State Pension four months before you reach State Pension age.

If you haven't received this letter three months before your birthday, you can:

How the State Pension is paid

Direct Payment into an account is the Social Security Agency’s normal way of paying pensions and benefits. It is a safe, convenient and efficient method of payment.

Putting off claiming your State Pension until later

You don't have to claim your State Pension as soon as you reach State Pension age. If you wish, you can put off claiming it and get a higher weekly amount or the option of a one-off taxable lump sum payment instead.

If you are thinking about deferring your State Pension you need to consider how the changes to State Pensions from April 2010 may affect your decision.

What to do if your circumstances change

You should tell The Pension Service if:

What to do if your circumstances change

You need to contact The Pension Service if you are receiving State Pension and there is a change in your details.

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