Who gets the basic State Pension

Everyone eligible for the basic State Pension has now reached State Pension age. To get it you need to have enough National Insurance qualifying years.

You also need to be either a:

  • man born before 6 April 1951

  • woman born before 6 April 1953

If you were born on or after these dates, you’ll claim the new State Pension instead.

You will have already claimed your basic State Pension unless you delayed (deferred) your State Pension.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Your National Insurance qualifying years

A National Insurance qualifying year is one in which you did one or more of the following:

Number of qualifying years you need

The number of National Insurance qualifying years you need to get any basic State Pension depends on your circumstances.

If you’re a man you usually need:

  • 1 qualifying year if you were born between 1945 and 1951
  • 11 qualifying years if you were born before 1945

If you’re a woman you usually need:

  • 1 qualifying year if you were born between 1950 and 1953
  • 10 qualifying years if were born before 1950

You might still be eligible if you have fewer qualifying years. To check, contact the Pension Service or the International Pension Centre if you live abroad.

The number of qualifying years of National Insurance contributions you have affects the amount of State Pension you’ll get.

If you’re married or in a civil partnership

You might be able to increase or inherit State Pension if you have had a spouse or civil partner.

You might be able to increase your State Pension if either:

  • you’re not eligible for the basic State Pension
  • your basic State Pension is less than £93.60 per week

You might be able to inherit State Pension from your spouse or civil partner if either:

  • you’re not eligible for the basic State Pension
  • your basic State Pension is less than £156.20 per week

If you’re transgender

Your State Pension might be affected if you’re a transgender person and you:

  • were born between 24 December 1919 and 3 April 1945

  • have claimed State Pension before 4 April 2005

  • can provide evidence that your gender reassignment surgery took place before 4 April 2005

Find out more and contact the Gender Recognition team.

You do not need to do anything if you legally changed your gender and started claiming State Pension on or after 4 April 2005 - you’ll already be claiming based on your legal gender.

If you do not qualify for a State Pension

You might be eligible for Pension Credit or other benefits and financial support.