Basic State Pension 

Overview

You can claim the basic State Pension if you’re:


If you were born later, you’ll need to claim the new State Pension instead.

To get the basic State Pension you must have paid or been credited with National Insurance contributions.

The most you can currently get is £185.15 per week.

Eligibility

You’re eligible for the basic State Pension if you were born before:


If you were born on or after these dates you must claim the new State Pension.


The earliest you can get the basic State Pension is when you reach State Pension age.


To get the full basic State Pension you need a total of 30 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits. This means you were either:



If you have fewer than 30 qualifying years, your basic State Pension will be less than £169.50 per week but you might be able to top up by paying voluntary National Insurance contributions.


To get information about your basic State Pension, contact the Pension Service or the International Pension Centre if you live abroad.


Married or in a civil partnership


If you’re not eligible for a basic State Pension or you’re not getting the full amount, you might qualify for a ‘top up’ to £80.45 per week through your spouse’s or civil partner’s National Insurance contributions.


You can get the ‘top up’ if both of you have reached State Pension age and either:



If your spouse or civil partner was born before 6 April 1950, you can only get the ‘top up’ if you’re a woman who is married to either:



If you’re not getting the ‘top up’ but think you qualify, contact the Pension Service.

You need to contact the Pension Service to claim your ‘top up’ if you’re a married woman and:



You’ll get any Additional State Pension or Graduated Retirement Benefit based on your own contributions in addition to the ‘top up’.


You do not qualify for a State Pension


If you’re not covered by any of these groups but want a State Pension you might be able to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions.


Men born before 1945 and women born before 1950


You need more qualifying years to get a full State Pension and a certain minimum number of years to get any State Pension at all.


Men born before 6 April 1945


Number of years needed for a full State Pension - 44

Number of years needed for any State Pension - 11


Women born before 6 April 1950


Number of years needed for a full State Pension - 39

Number of years needed for any State Pension - 10


Transgender people


Your State Pension might be affected if you’re a transgender person and you:



Find out more and contact the Gender Recognition team.


You do not need to do anything if you legally changed your gender and started claiming State Pension on or after 4 April 2005 - you’ll already be claiming based on your legal gender.

Increases

The basic State Pension increases every year by whichever is the highest of the following:

What you will get

Check if you need to claim the new State Pension instead.


The full basic State Pension is £169.50 per week. There are ways you can increase your State Pension up to or above the full amount.

You may have to pay tax on your State Pension.


To get information about your State Pension, contact the Pension Service.


How it’s paid


The day your pension is paid depends on your National Insurance number.