Additional State Pension
Eligibility
You reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016
You will not get the Additional State Pension if you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016. You’ll get the new State Pension.
You reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016
If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and started claiming the basic State Pension, you’ll automatically get any Additional State Pension you’re eligible for. There is no need to make a separate claim.
You may not get any Additional State Pension for periods when you were contracted out of it.
When you have contributed to the Additional State Pension
The Additional State Pension is made up of 3 schemes. You might have contributed to more than one, depending on:
- how long you’ve been working
- whether you chose to top up your State Pension
| Time | Scheme | You contributed if |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 to 2016 | State Second Pension | You were employed or claiming certain benefits |
| 1978 to 2002 | State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) | You were employed |
| 12 October 2015 to 5 April 2017 | State Pension top up | You reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 and opted in |
The State Second Pension since 2002
You contributed through your National Insurance contributions if at any time between 6 April 2002 and 5 April 2016 you were:
- employed and earning at least the lower earnings limit - this was £5,824 in the 2015 to 2016 tax year
- looking after children under 12 and claiming Child Benefit
- caring for a sick or disabled person more than 20 hours a week and claiming Carer’s Credit
- working as a registered foster carer and claiming Carer’s Credit
- receiving certain other benefits due to illness or disability