New State Pension Guide

Funseeker

Thanks a lot, that's very helpful, I will try.

blue_chelsea

Do you know who I can speak to or email {FREE} for help with my state pension.
I have been on the Gov UK site looking at my state pension.
It states I need 35 qualifying National Insurance years to get the max £168.60 per week
It shows I have 41 fully paid qualifying NI years but it shows I will only receive £163.30 per week.
As I have now retired early {living off savings} it shows 2017/18 Shortfall Pay a voluntary contribution of £484.50 by 5 April 2024. This shortfall may increase after 5 April 2020.
As I have 41 fully paid Ni qualifying years I cant see why I am not on the max and both Gov Pensions Helpline 0800 731 0181 and Gov NI have not been able to help basically saying speak to the other

I have been to citizens advice but their support was limited and apart from telling me to phone the pensions department again could not help.

Dazed_and_confused

It states I need 35 qualifying National Insurance years to get the max £168.60 per week

The "35 years" rule doesn't apply to you and presume you are referring to a generic entry on gov.uk rather than your personal estimate.

You are under transitional rules which means you could need less than or more than 35 years.

You have probably been contracted out at some point so paid lower National Insurance but will likely have a company pension in addition to the State Pension.

There is a very good helpsheet explaining this on Royal London website

GunJack

Dazed_and_confused wrote: »

There is a very good helpsheet explaining this on Royal London website

Here you go...

https://www.royallondon.com/Global/documents/GoodWithYourMoney/TOPPING-UP-YOUR-STATE-PENSION-GUIDE.pdf

xylophone

As I have now retired early {living off savings}

Are you indicating that you have no occupational/private pension or simply that you are choosing not to draw it?

41 years of contributions but not qualifying for a full new state pension indicates that at some point you were contracted out of additional state pension into a private or occupational scheme.

You can try the link above - have you yet been in contact with the Future Pensions Centre?


https://www.gov.uk/future-pension-centre

Lisanne

You can get these credits if you looked after grandchildren or other young family members

ChrisEd

NI years are April to April and you only get credited for full years.
If you are due to retire part way through a Tax year and are not due to get full State Pension is it worth delaying retiring by a few months so the final year is credited to your state pension?

50Twuncle

Lisanne wrote: »

You can get these credits if you looked after grandchildren or other young family members

Or are a carer for a disabled person..

ChrisEd

Worth checking to see if you have paid any part years NI - only full years count towards State Pension.
Its proportionally cheaper to pay a top up for any part years, otherwise you may have paid NI contributions which are wasted.

molerat

ChrisEd wrote: »

NI years are April to April and you only get credited for full years.
If you are due to retire part way through a Tax year and are not due to get full State Pension is it worth delaying retiring by a few months so the final year is credited to your state pension?

The year in which you reach state retirement age is not counted so deferring will not make any difference to your entitlement.