Key Facts about the New State Pension
The new state pension is changing on 6 April 2016.
How will state pension affect older people?
They’ll remain in the current scheme even if they defer claiming their State Pension until after 6 April 2016, if they either:
- already get the State Pension or
- reach State Pension age before 6 April 2016
This means the current rules still apply, and their State Pension will be made up of the basic State Pension and Additional State Pension (if they’re eligible).
If they haven’t reached State Pension age yet, they can get a State Pension statement for an estimate of their State Pension.
How to get a State Pension through a spouse or civil partner
Under the current scheme older people could:
- get some State Pension based on their partner’s or former partner’s National Insurance record, if they’re not eligible for the basic State Pension or not getting the full amount
- inherit some of their partner’s Additional State Pension, if they’re widowed
If their spouse or civil partner reaches State Pension age before 6 April 2016, there will be no change to how these rules apply to them.
If they reach State Pension age after this date, any State Pension they get or inherit will only be based on their record up to 5 April 2016.
What is a State Pension top up?
If your parent reaches State Pension age before 6 April 2016, they’ll be able to make a voluntary National Insurance contribution to top up their State Pension by up to £25 per week. They can register their interest by emailing [email protected] to get updates about State Pension top up and other State Pension news.
What else can older people do to increase their retirement income?
If your parent has not yet reached State Pension age, they may be able to increase their State Pension by working and paying National Insurance or through receipt of National Insurance credits.
Your parent might also be able to make voluntary National Insurance contributions if they have gaps in their National Insurance record.
If your parent is over State Pension age and has a low income, or certain additional needs, they may qualify for other support such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit. More information can be found on GOV.UK
How to manage your own State Pension
You’ll be able to claim the new State Pension if you’re:
- a man born on or after 6 April 1951
- a woman born on or after 6 April 1953
You’ll get your State Pension under the current scheme if you reach State Pension age before 6 April 2016.
Use the State Pension calculator to find out when you’ll reach State Pension age.
Watch this 30 second video
How much older people will get under the new scheme?
How much you’ll get under the new scheme when you reach State Pension age will depend on your National Insurance record.
The full new State Pension will be at least £148.40 a week. The exact amount will be set in autumn 2015.
You’ll usually need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any new State Pension. The amount you get can be lower than the full new State Pension depending on your National Insurance record. It can also be higher than the full level of the new State Pension, for example if you have more than a certain amount of Additional State Pension under the current State Pension rules.
Get a State Pension statement for an estimate of your State Pension.
What happens if you’re married or in a civil partnership?
The amount you’ll get will be based on your National Insurance record only, unless:
- you’re widowed and eligible to inherit some of your partner’s State Pension
- you’ve paid married women’s and widows’ reduced rate contributions and meet certain other conditions to get some more State Pension
You can check if one of these applies to you.
