Basic State Pension


How much do you get?


As a result of the triple-lock guarantee introduced in April 2011, the Basic State Pension increases each year by the increases in average weekly earnings, inflation under the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 2.5%, whichever is the higher.


In 2018-19, the Basic State Pension increase is 3% (based on the CPI). The standard rate of Basic State Pension for a man or woman with a full contributions record is £125.95 a week. A wife qualifying on her husband’s contributions is entitled to £75.50, making a couple’s pension £201.45 a week.


Who can get it?


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



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


• you were working and paying NICs;


• 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 NICs cover you;


• you were paying voluntary NICs.


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 your pension will be less than £125.95 per week. 


You may be able to get National Insurance Credits if you are not paying NICs, for example, when you are claiming benefits because you are ill or unemployed. Credits can help to fill gaps in your NICs record, to make sure you qualify for certain benefits including the State Pension. 


You may be credited with contributions during periods when you are receiving benefits including: Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Working Tax Credit, Maternity Allowance, Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Carer’s Allowance and UC. 


If you have been a parent or carer you can get NICs credits which allow you to build entitlement to the State Pension. You may be eligible for NICs credits if you are, for example:


• 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.


Married women, married men and civil partners


If you are not eligible for a Basic State Pension, or not getting the full amount, you might be able to qualify for a top up to £75.50 through your spouse’s or civil partner’s NICs if you have both reached SPA, and either:


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


• your spouse or civil partner reached SPA on or after 6 April 2016 and has at least one qualifying year of NICs or credits from before 6 April 2016, even if they do not qualify for any new State Pension, or they have not claimed it.


You do this through claiming your State Pension.


How to claim


You should receive a claim form from the Pension Service four months before you reach State Pension Age. If you have not received it three months before reaching SPA, you should contact the Pension Service claim line (0800 731 7898), or you may suffer a delay in receiving your pension. It is possible to be paid backdated entitlement going back 12 months. 


Deferring your state pension


You can defer or postpone drawing your retirement pension for an indefinite period after reaching State Pension Age (SPA). This will increase the deferred pension by around 10.4% for every year you put off claiming for people reaching SPA before April 2016, and 5.8% a year for those reaching SPA after April 2016. You can also get a lump-sum payment if you defer your pension for at least a year.