What you may get

The new full State Pension is £168.60 a week for 2019-2020. The amount you get can be higher or lower depending on your National Insurance Contribution (NIC) record and how transitional arrangements for those with entitlement built up under the old and new State Pensions apply.

It will be higher if you have over a certain amount of Additional State Pension, or you defer (delay) taking your State Pension (see below). Entitlement is based on what you would have got under the old rules and the amount you would have got if the new State Pension had been in place at the start of your working life. The higher figure (the “starting amount”) is paid.

If the figure reached is more than the full new State Pension, the difference becomes a “protected payment”, increasing each year in line with inflation. But if it is less, you may have to rely on adding years to your NIC record to get closer to the full amount. Each qualifying year after 5 April 2016 adds about £4.56 a week to the pension.

You may get less than the new full State Pension if you were contracted out before 6 April 2016.

The new pension rises in line with the average earnings, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) measure of inflation or 2.5%, whichever is the highest, as does the basic State Pension under the triple-lock guarantee (see page 60).