The Department for Work and Pensions is blocking one group of state pensioners from receiving the state pension. While the state pension age is 66, not everyone will automatically qualify under DWP rules.
Key Requirement for State Pension
You will not get any state pension if you have less than 10 qualifying National Insurance years when you reach state pension age. If this applies to you, you may be able to buy NI contributions to reach the 10-year threshold.
For those who have reached state pension age and are on a low income, Pension Credit may also provide assistance, according to Money Saving Expert, the site founded by Martin Lewis.
Options to Increase Your Pension
If you have spare savings and can afford to be without the cash in the short term, it is possible to buy some missing National Insurance qualifying years. This could lead to a significant increase – you may be able to turn £923 into £6,800 in your state pension.
You can use the DWP service to find out how much state pension you could get, when you can get it, if you can increase it, and how you could increase it (for example, by paying to fill gaps). The state pension age is regularly reviewed, so the results of this tool may change in the future.
How to Check Your Forecast
You cannot use this service if you are already getting your state pension or if you have delayed claiming it. You will need to sign in to use this service, and you may need to prove your identity using photo ID like a passport or driving licence.
You can also check your state pension forecast through the HMRC app. For information about your state pension, contact the Pension Service if you are in the UK or the International Pension Centre if you live abroad.
