State Pension
The State Pension is paid to entitled people who claim it having reached State Pension age. It is based on National Insurance (NI) contributions and it is made up of different elements.
The Government has announced new proposals for increasing State Pension age. From December 2018, the State Pension Age for both Men and women would start to increase to reach age 66 by April 2020. Women's State Pension age would increase more quickly to 65 between April 2016 and November 2018. Any change to the timetable needs the approval of Parliament. The Government is also considering the timetable for future increases to the State Pension age from 66 to 68.
On 6 April 2010, the way
you qualify for a State Pension changed:
- to get a full basic State Pension, you only need 30 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions (in the past, men normally needed 44 years and women 39 years).
- once you have built up a single qualifying year you qualify for at least some basic State Pension.
- it is easier for parents and carers to build up qualifying years and get a State Pension
If you're over 55, or if you care for
someone, you should find out how the changes may affect you.
The Government has announced new proposals for increasing State Pension age. From December 2018, the State Pension Age for both Men and women would start to increase to reach age 66 by April 2020. Women's State Pension age would increase more quickly to 65 between April 2016 and November 2018. Any change to the timetable needs the approval of Parliament. The Government is also considering the timetable for future increases to the State Pension age from 66 to 68.
The Pensions Act 2007 and the Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 have made changes to the State Pensions system.
What Else Should I Know?
If you are a married woman and cannot get a full basic State Pension because you do not have enough qualifying years based on your own National Insurance (NI) contributions, you may be able to get a State Pension based on your husband's NI contributions. You can only do this if he is already getting a basic State Pension and you are aged 60 or over.
From 6 April 2010 you will be able to claim your State Pension based on your husband’s record, even if he has not claimed his own State Pension, as long as you and your husband are of State Pension age or over.
If you are a widow, widower or surviving civil partner, you may be able to get a basic State Pension based on your late husband's, wife's or civil partner’s NI contributions.
If you are already a widow, widower or surviving civil partner you can get up to 100% of your late husband's, wife's or civil partner’s additional State Pension.
If your husband or wife or civil partner reached State Pension age before 6 October 2002, you will receive up to 100% of their SERPS pension or Additional State Pension when they die.
If your husband, wife or civil partner is due to reach State Pension age after 5 October 2002 but before 6 October 2010, if they die before you, you will receive a maximum of between 90% and 60% of their SERPS pension. The exact amount will depend on when, in this period, they reach State Pension age.
If you husband or wife is due to reach State Pension age on or after 6 October 2010, you will receive up to 50% of their SERPS pension if they die before you.
The maximum amount of additional State Pension built up after 6 April 2002 under the State Second Pension that a surviving husband, wife or civil partner can inherit will be 50%.
If you are divorced or your civil partnership has been dissolved and you cannot get a full basic State Pension based on the qualifying years from your own NI contributions, you may be able to get a basic State Pension based on your former husband's, wife's or civil partners NI contributions. They do not need to be getting their State Pension.
If you carry on working after claiming your State Pension, your earnings will not affect how much State Pension you get. But if you get an increase for a dependant, their earnings may affect how much increase you get for them.
If you put off claiming your State Pension for at least five weeks when you reach State Pension age, you can earn extra State Pension. The weekly amount of your State Pension will be higher, but you will not get any State Pension for the weeks you put off claiming.
From April 2005, if you put off claiming your extra State Pension for at least 12 months, you may be able to choose between extra weekly pension and a one-off taxable lump-sum payment when you do finally claim.
If you are a married woman and cannot get a full basic State Pension because you do not have enough qualifying years based on your own National Insurance (NI) contributions, you may be able to get a State Pension based on your husband's NI contributions. You can only do this if he is already getting a basic State Pension and you are aged 60 or over.
From 6 April 2010 you will be able to claim your State Pension based on your husband’s record, even if he has not claimed his own State Pension, as long as you and your husband are of State Pension age or over.
If you are a widow, widower or surviving civil partner, you may be able to get a basic State Pension based on your late husband's, wife's or civil partner’s NI contributions.
If you are already a widow, widower or surviving civil partner you can get up to 100% of your late husband's, wife's or civil partner’s additional State Pension.
If your husband or wife or civil partner reached State Pension age before 6 October 2002, you will receive up to 100% of their SERPS pension or Additional State Pension when they die.
If your husband, wife or civil partner is due to reach State Pension age after 5 October 2002 but before 6 October 2010, if they die before you, you will receive a maximum of between 90% and 60% of their SERPS pension. The exact amount will depend on when, in this period, they reach State Pension age.
If you husband or wife is due to reach State Pension age on or after 6 October 2010, you will receive up to 50% of their SERPS pension if they die before you.
The maximum amount of additional State Pension built up after 6 April 2002 under the State Second Pension that a surviving husband, wife or civil partner can inherit will be 50%.
If you are divorced or your civil partnership has been dissolved and you cannot get a full basic State Pension based on the qualifying years from your own NI contributions, you may be able to get a basic State Pension based on your former husband's, wife's or civil partners NI contributions. They do not need to be getting their State Pension.
If you carry on working after claiming your State Pension, your earnings will not affect how much State Pension you get. But if you get an increase for a dependant, their earnings may affect how much increase you get for them.
If you put off claiming your State Pension for at least five weeks when you reach State Pension age, you can earn extra State Pension. The weekly amount of your State Pension will be higher, but you will not get any State Pension for the weeks you put off claiming.
From April 2005, if you put off claiming your extra State Pension for at least 12 months, you may be able to choose between extra weekly pension and a one-off taxable lump-sum payment when you do finally claim.
Last updated: 17/02/2011 18:11:06
