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What if I don’t get the full pension?

The new State Pension won’t be the same for everyone. What you get will be based on your National Insurance record.

Your State Pension will be based on how many “qualifying years” you have on your National Insurance record and whether you have previously been “contracted–out” of the additional State Pension at any time prior to 6 April 2016.
 
From 6 April 2016 you will also need at least 10 qualifying years to be eligible to receive any State Pension.

You can get a new State Pension statement at www.gov.uk/state-pension-statement

If you do not qualify for the new full State Pension there are ways in which you can increase it up to the full amount.
 
  • You can continue to work and pay National Insurance contributions up to your State Pension age and this will boost your starting amount from 6 April 2016.
  • You may find that you have gaps in your National Insurance record and you may be eligible to claim credits for these. Find out more here.
  • You may be able to elect to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions to increase your State Pension. Find out how here.
  • If you have already reached your State Pension age you can delay claiming your pension and over a period of time your State Pension will increase in value.
Find out more information: National Insurance Record and Your State Pension


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