STATE pension payments will be something you receive if you've reached a certain age in later life.
The state pension is different to your workplace or a private pension, and when you can start receiving the pay-out depends on when you were born.
In May 2014, the government changed how the state pension system works, with the goal of making it simpler.
In order to get a state pension you need to pay National Insurance contributions (NICs), and have built up a minimum number of years' worth.
How much is the state pension?
Men born on or after April 6, 1951, or women born on or after April 6, 1953, will be able to claim the new state pension.
For those who reached the state pension age before April 6, 2016, you’ll be getting the old state pension, known as the basic state pension.
The full new state pension is £175.60 per week, but the actual money you get will depend on your National Insurance record.
If you've accrued NICs under both the old and new pensions, you'll receive a state pension based on a mixture of both schemes.
What are the different types of pension?
WE round-up the main types of pension and how they differ:
- Personal pension or self-invested personal pension (Sipp) – This is probably the most flexible type of pension as you can choose your own provider and how much you invest.
- Workplace pension – The Government has made it so it's compulsory for employers to automatically enrol you in your workplace pension, unless you choose to opt out. These so-called defined contribution (DC) pensions are usually chosen by your employer and you won't be able to change it. Minimum contributions rose to 8% in April 2019, with employees now paying in 5% and employers contributing 3%. This is up from the 5% of contributions workers and companies were required to pay in previously, where employees contributed 3% and employers 2%.
- Final salary pension – This is a also a workplace pension but here, what you get in retirement is decided based on your salary, and you'll be paid a set amount each year on retiring. It's often referred to as a gold-plated pension or a defined benefit (DB) pension. But they're not typically offered by employers anymore.
- New state pension – This is what the state pays to those who reach state pension age after April 6 2016. The maximum payout is £179.58 a week and you'll need 35 years of national insurance contributions to get this. You also need at least ten years' worth of national insurance contributions to qualify.
- Basic state pension – If you reached the state pension age on or before April 2016, you'll get the basic state pension. The full amount is £137.60 per week and you'll need 30 years of national insurance contributions to get this. If you have the basic state pension you may also get a top-up from what's known as the additional or second state pension. Those who have built up national insurance contributions under both the basic and new state pensions will get a combination of both schemes.
When can you claim?
You have to reach a certain age before you can claim your state pension.
On October 6 last year, the pension age for men and women rose to 66, up from 65.
The change applies to anyone born after October 5, 1954, and it means they will now have to wait a year longer before they can access their state-paid retirement fund.
For some women, this will be six years after they were originally told they would be able to claim their retirement fund aged 60.
From 2026 to 2028, the state pension age is going to rise again to 67 and it could go up to 68 between 2037 and 2039.
If you want to check how old you need to be before you can claim state pension, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has an online tool.
Enter your date of birth and the website will tell you what year you're due to reach state pension age and how old you will be.
How do I get paid?
It's worth remembering you don't get your state pension automatically, you have to claim it.
Before you turn the eligible age to start receiving your pension you'll be sent a pack in the post from the DWP.
If you haven't, you need to contact the department on 0800 731 7898.
You then can claim it by either:
- Calling the DWP on 0800 731 7898
- Downloading the state pension claim form and sending it to your local pension centre
But you can also defer your pension payments – the way you do this is by just leaving it unclaimed until you're ready to get it.
By leaving your state pension untouched it will boost the amount you eventually get.
You're usually paid every four weeks into an account of your choice.
You’re paid "in arrears", which means you’re paid for the last four weeks, not for the coming four weeks.
When will my state pension be paid?
The day of the week when you receive your state pension varies depending on your National Insurance number.
So if your last two digits are 00 to 19 you'll be paid on a Monday, 20 to 39 and it's Tuesday, 40 to 59 and it's Wednesday, 60 to 79 and it's Thursday, and 80 to 99 is on a Friday.
Why are some not paid the full state pension?
Millions of pensioners were left in "total confusion" thanks to a "contracting out" scheme – which means they no longer qualify for a full state pension.
These people will be on the old basic state pension.
They paid a lower rate of NICs while working, in exchange for a higher private pension, and as such this will have reduced their state pension.
This was more likely to happen if you worked in the public sector.
Contracting out ended in April 2016 but some pensioners are now claiming this happened without their knowledge – meaning they were unable to properly plan for the future.
To check if you were contracted out check old payslips or speak to your employer.
What further changes are happening?
In August 2019 a report claimed that the state pension age should rise to 75 from 68 but the government has yet to confirm this will actually happen.
The government has also so far ruled out scrapping the triple lock, which sees the state pension rise each year in line with the greater of wages, inflation or 2.5%.
You'll want to make sure you're getting the right amount in your state pension payment and not missing out on money you're entitled to – here's how to check.
And we previously created a guide on how to calculate how much you need to retire on.
Since new rules came into force, elderly people now have to apply for pension credit if they want a free TV licence.
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