Additional State Pension

You won’t be eligible for the Additional State Pension if you reach SPA on or after 6 April 2016 (see page 72). If you reach State Pension Age before 6 April 2016 and start claiming the Basic State Pension you will automatically get any Additional State Pension you are eligible for, there is no need to make a separate claim.

The Additional State Pension is an extra amount of money you could get with your Basic State Pension. It is based on your National Insurance contributions. How much you get depends on your earnings and whether you have claimed certain benefits. There is no fixed amount like the Basic State Pension.

You get the Additional State Pension automatically unless you have contracted out of it (see below). The Additional State Pension is paid with your Basic State Pension. It normally increases every year with inflation. The Additional State Pension is made up of two schemes (see below). You might have contributed to both of them, depending on how long you’ve been working.

The main difference between the two schemes is that since 2002 you would also have contributed to the Additional State Pension if you were claiming certain benefits (see table below).

Before 6 April 2016 you can build up entitlement to Additional State Pension if you are:

• employed and earning over the lower earnings limit (£112 per week, £486 per month or £5,824 per year;

• looking after children under 12 years old and claiming Child Benefit;

• caring for a sick or disabled person for more than 20 hours a week and claiming Carer’s Credit;

• a registered foster carer and claiming Carer’s Credit;

• receiving certain other benefits due to illness or disability.