Will I get the basic State Pension?

You can claim the State Pension once you reach State Pension Age  whether or not you are still working.

How much you get will depend on how many years you have paid National Insurance contributions, or are considered to have paid contributions. You need to have paid NI contributions, or have received credits, for 30 years to get a full basic State Pension.

• You will almost certainly have paid contributions if you have been in full time paid work and earning a reasonable wage.
• You will almost certainly have been receiving NI credits if you are registered as unemployed or if you are caring for young children or an invalid.
• If you are self employed then you are legally required to pay NI contributions.

Common reasons why people may not have the full qualifying contributions are:

• time spent working overseas
• time spent out of work but not registered as unemployed or with children to care for

·         earning too little to pay National Insurance contributions. Currently National Insurance contributions are only paid on weekly earnings over a limit set annually. You can find the current rates on the HMRC website.

• If you earn below the lower earnings limit then you have not made National Insurance contributions.

• married women who have chosen to pay reduced National Insurance contributions –  the so called 'small stamp' – do not qualify for a pension. Instead they are dependent on their husband's pension entitlement.