How do I check I am getting the right state pension

twixeey

Just wondered if anyone could help me please.
I have been told I have 36 qualifying years, as the single pension at present is £90.70 a week and I understand you get this if you have 39 qualifying years. Is the caluclation done like this

£90.70 divided by 39 = £2.3256 x 36 = £83.72

regards
Twixeey

margaretclare

See: https://secure.thepensionservice.gov.uk/statepensionforecast/

EdInvestor

You may also have SERPS/S2P money on top of the basic state pension.Get a forecast (may not be available until October).

twixeey

Thanks, cant see the links answers my question... I am in receipt of my pensions but am querying the amout paid.

alared

Your calculation is correct but as pointed out you could have SERPS added to this amount.
Best get a forcast on 0845 3000168
Have your national insurance number handy.

Phone after 6pm and it`s a 6p connection charge and a halfpenny a minute.
Office open `til 8pm

Jennifer_Jane

Everybody above is correct. There are various components to the State Pension, and you should get a Forecast. I think it's too complicated to just do a simple arithmetical sum.

It sounds, though, as if you are already getting the pension and want to check with us whether it's correct. Is that so?

My suggestion, whether you are currently getting it or about to, is to phone the DWP and the only number I can find is this:

"You can request a State Pension forecast by phoning the State Pension Forecasting Team on 0845 3000 168 (local call rates apply)."

They are very sweet and helpful, and will tell you how many years you have/how it's made up, and so on (Basic State Pension/SERPS/Graduated Pension etc. Best to have your NI number of course when you phone.

Currently there are problems with the online forecasting whilst the computers are upgraded. But I have never had any reason not to trust them.

twixeey

Yes, thanks, they have confirmed my qualifying years, and after that just say sorry phone another number, which I did, they said sorry not our area, phone another number, I have made 5 phone calls today, and just going around in a circle, all I got was for them to confirm as I thought that I had 36 qualifying years, so not full pension, cus I dont get Home protection before 1978, although my child benefit started before this. Thanks all, guess I will just have to leave it and see if someone gets back to me.

Twixeey

jem16

alared wrote: »

Your calculation is correct but as pointed out you could have SERPS added to this amount.
Best get a forcast on 0845 3000168
Have your national insurance number handy.

Phone after 6pm and it`s a 6p connection charge and a halfpenny a minute.
Office open `til 8pm

Or use 0191 2187712 and it's free if you have inclusive evening calls.

Be_Happy

Hi Twixeey.

I've just dug out my old pension forecast as the qualifying years are fairly similar. This told me that for 33 qualifying years I would get 85% of the full pension, but if I paid voluntary NI contributions for one more year I would get 88%, so it's not an exact division by 39 although close to it.

The old pension information booklets used to have a grid that you read down and across, one showing qualifying years and another showing the % you would get. Where the two lines crossed was your figure.

My forecast also showed I had 'Additional State Pension' and a very small amount of 'Graduated Retirement Benefit' - we all paid this in the 60s and earned a minute amount of extra pension for it. So you will probably have an increase on your pension made up of one or both of these extras.

However, when I approached 60 I got a letter from the Pension Service showing what my pension would be and how it was made up. Did you not get one of these? As it is, I have deferred my pension, so I don't have any up to date figures.

alared

jem16 wrote: »

Or use 0191 2187712 and it's free if you have inclusive evening calls.

That number doesn`t work in the evenings or maybe any other time either.

I have recently been down this road helping a relative and that`s how I can post the cheapest and most accurate info that I did in my OP.

Aylana

Twixeey, have you spoken to your local pension centre? 0845 6060265? They are the ones who would have calculated your pension when you claimed it so should be able to provide you with details of how they did that.