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Wednesday, 10 February 2010

Pensions and retirement planning

Over 50s

Understanding the basic State Pension

The basic State Pension is a pension paid to you by the government when you reach State Pension age. It is based on the number of qualifying years gained through National Insurance contributions (NICs) you've paid, are treated as having paid or have been credited with throughout your working life.

What is your State Pension age?

If entitled, you can get the basic State Pension when you reach State Pension age.

You will have to claim your State Pension. See below for more details.

State Pension age is 65 for men born on or before 5 April 1959 and 60 for women born on or before 5 April 1950.

State Pension age for women born on or after 6 April 1950, but before 6 April 1955, is rising from 60 to 65 between 2010 and 2020.

State Pension age for women born on or after 6 April 1955, but before 6 April 1959, is 65.

State Pension age will increase for both men and women from age 65 to 68 between 2024 and 2046.

Are you entitled to the basic State Pension?

You can get a basic State Pension by building up enough 'qualifying years' before State Pension age.

What are qualifying years?

Qualifying years are tax years where you have sufficient income to pay NICs, or are treated as having paid or being credited with NICs.

In 2009-10, you need to have £4,940 or more of such earnings if you are an employee or £5,075 or more if you are self-employed.

If you earn less than these amounts, you won’t qualify. This does not apply to parents and carers. See below for more details.

How many qualifying years do you need?

Currently men normally need 44, and women normally need 39 qualifying years to get the full basic State Pension.

However, if you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, you will need 30 qualifying years for a full basic State Pension.

To find out more about the State Pension, you can download the leaflet 'State pensions – your guide'.

If you've been a parent or carer

If you haven't paid enough NICs because you've looked after children or cared for someone long-term, you may be eligible for Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP).

If you reach State Pension age before 6 April 2010, HRP can reduce the number of qualifying years you need for the basic State Pension.

If you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, HRP is being replaced with National Insurance credits.

Years of HRP built up before 6 April 2010 will count as qualifying years of National Insurance credits.

If you've been claiming benefit

You will have automatically received National Insurance credits (for the weeks when you've been claiming) if you've been receiving certain benefits, such as:

  • Carer's Allowance
  • Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance – ‘contribution’ based (if you have paid enough NICs)

How much is the basic State Pension?

In 2009-10, the full basic State Pension is £95.25 a week.

The full basic State Pension for a married woman using her husband’s National Insurance record is £57.05 a week.

This means that a married couple could get separate basic State Pension payments totalling £152.30 a week.

If they both qualify for a full basic State Pension, they could get separate basic State Pension payments totalling £190.50 a week.

In all cases, your individual circumstances may affect the amount you get.

A State Pension forecast will tell you the current value of your State Pension and the amount you may get at State Pension age.

If you are not entitled to the full basic State Pension

If you reach State Pension age before 6 April 2010

If you have 25 per cent or more of the qualifying years, you can still get a weekly basic State Pension. This will be between:

  • a minimum of £23.81 in 2009-10
  • a maximum of £95.25 in 2009-10

If you have fewer than 25 per cent of qualifying years, you are not entitled to any basic State Pension using your own NICs record.

You can get a weekly 'non-contributory' or 'Over 80 Pension' of £57.05 for 2009-10 if all the following apply to you:

  • you are aged 80 or more
  • you have little or no State Pension
  • you meet the residency conditions

Follow the ‘Over 80 Pension’ link below, for more information.

If you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010

If you have some qualifying years, you will get one thirtieth of the full amount for each qualifying year.

You can get more information from your local pension centre.

If you are or have been married or in a civil partnership

You may be entitled to some basic State Pension through the National Insurance record of either:

  • your spouse or civil partner
  • your former or late spouse or civil partner

Pension Credit

If you're aged 60 or over and living in Great Britain, Pension Credit could top up your weekly income to a guaranteed minimum of:

  • £130 if you're single
  • £198.45 if you're a couple

From 6 April 2010, the age from which you can get Pension Credit will gradually increase.

Claiming your State Pension

For more on claiming the basic State Pension, how it’s paid, putting off claiming until later and what to do if your circumstances change, follow the link below.

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