Who can get it?

Your Basic State Pension depends on the number of years you’ve paid National Insurance or got National Insurance Credits, for example, while unemployed or claiming certain benefits.

To qualify for a Basic State Pension at least one of the following must apply to you:

• you were working and paying National Insurance;

• you were getting certain benefits, such as for unemployment, or sickness;

• you were a parent or carer and claiming certain benefits or credits;

• you have a spouse or civil partner whose National Insurance Contributions cover you;

• you were paying voluntary National Insurance Contributions.

To get the full Basic State Pension you currently need 30 years’ worth of contributions or credits. These are your qualifying years. If you have fewer than 30 years it will be less than £115.95 per week.

You will be credited with contributions during periods when you are receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Maternity Allowance, Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Carer’s Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance, or are on an approved training scheme.

If you’ve been a parent or carer you can get National Insurance (NI) credits which allow you to build entitlement 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; or

• caring for at least 20 hours per week for one or more severely disabled people.

Increased Basic State Pensions for married women, married men and civil partners

If you’re not eligible for a Basic State Pension or not getting the full amount, you might be able to qualify or top up to £69.50 through your spouse’s or civil partner’s National Insurance contributions if:

• you have both reached State Pension Age;

• your spouse or civil partner qualifies for some Basic State Pension (even if they haven’t claimed it);

• your wife or civil partner was born after 6 April 1950 (married men and civil partners only).

You do this through claiming your State Pension.