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Building up qualifying years

The amount of State Pension you get depends on how many qualifying years of National Insurance you have built up. Each qualifying year counts towards your State Pension.

You usually build up qualifying years if you are:

• in paid full-time or part-time work
• self-employed
• caring for someone for over 20 hours a week
• getting Child Benefit
• receiving certain benefits
• in full-time training

These activities mean you either pay National Insurance contributions or get credited with National Insurance contributions by the government to get a qualifying year.

To get the full basic State Pension, most people need to have built up 30 qualifying years. If you are missing any qualifying years, you may be able to make voluntary National Insurance contributions.

After you have built up 30 qualifying years, you may still be able to build up additional State Pension. You will have to continue paying National Insurance contributions until you reach your State Pension age, no matter how many qualifying years you have.

When you reach State Pension age, the government looks at your National Insurance contributions record to work out how much State Pension you can get. If you have fewer than 30 qualifying years, you will get less than the full amount of basic State Pension.

Qualifying years for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2010

Men born before 6 April 1945 usually need 44 qualifying years. Women born before 6 April 1950 usually need 39 qualifying years. See 'Qualifying for a basic State Pension' to find out more.

• Qualifying for a basic State Pension

Building up your State Pension: myths and facts

The system for building up State Pension can be complicated. Here are some common myths about building up State Pension - and the facts.

Myth: "You have to be working to make National Insurance contributions"

Fact: You can usually pay National Insurance contributions voluntarily, even if you're not working, but there are time limits. But you may not need to do this if you're getting National Insurance credits from the government. For instance, you may get credits if you are:

• unemployed but actively seeking work
• claiming certain State Benefits
• caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week

• When and how to top up your National Insurance contributions Opens new window

• Getting credits towards your State Pension

Myth: "There's no point saving for retirement - it just means you get less State Pension"

Fact: The amount you save has no effect on your State Pension. Whether you have savings accounts, personal pensions, property or other sources of income, your State Pension will remain the same.

People sometimes confuse the State Pension with Pension Credit, which is means tested.  If you are on a low income in retirement you may get Pension Credit to top up your State Pension income.

If you are over 65 you can still get Pension Credit even if your income (including pension or savings) is:

• up to around £188 a week for a single person 
• up to around £277 for couples
  

You can have up to £10,000 in savings without this being taken into account when calculating your entitlement to Pension Credit. Only savings about £10,000 are taken into account. This means you should still be better off than if you had nothing saved up.

• Pension Credit - introduction

Tell The Pension Service of a change in your circumstances

Find out what you need to report, such as a change of address or bank details.

• Report your change of address, bank details or other circumstances to The Pension Service

More useful links

• Changes to State Pension for married people and civil partners

• Pensions planning when you're starting out

Useful contacts

• Retirement contacts

• Financial advice and support contacts

• Over 50s contacts