Pension qualification question

Dave2012_2

Hi,

Posting this question on behalf of me mum, I don't really understand pensions that well so I'll phrase it as best I can...

If a woman started work in 1961 (age 15), when would she have started paying "full stamp" (I assume this means full NICs?) - and depending on the answer to this, how many years would she then have had to be paying "full stamp" in order to receive a full state pension?

Also, if over the same period she was paying "half stamp" instead of full (she said there was something where women could opt-out of paying full contributions years ago) does this change the number of years you have to work to get full pension and if so by how much?

if you know any websites that explain this, that'd be a big help too

Thanks all,

Dave

EdInvestor

Hi Dave

She should get a state pension forecast for a start. Details of how to do it on this site, plus a phone number for queries (have NI number to hand when ringing).They will explain the basis on which it's worked out, and she can check if it's correct.

http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/resource_centre/statepensionforecast.asp

CIS

A woman starting work then would need 39 yrs for a state pension. If she was paying the small stamp (married womand reduced rate election), she would not build up any entilement to state pension for any yr in which she has paid the reduced stamp, its possible that she could still be paying it now and continuing to receive no benefit to her state pension.

National Insurance for pension purposes runs from the april prior to the 16th birthday until the april prior to state pension age.

I used toworjk for state pension forecasting (over 3 yrs) and we use the NP46 for our reference , you can find it here, its pretty concise. https://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pdf/np46/np46apr04.pdf

If you havenay morequestions just post again and Iam sure you'll get an answer

Dave2012_2

Cheers guys, I think that pretty much covers it!

Thanks again,

Dave