Not getting full amount of New State Pension

covid1956

Well i became eligible for the New State Pension in January and as i have 44 full qualifying years i thought i would get the full state pension but no i am about £5.00 a week short of the full state pension. 
So i was wondering why?
I have filled in the on line form querying this well over a month ago--- but no reply
I have also written to DWP at their Wolverhampton office and am waiting for their reply.
I have printed off the info from the website stating i have 44 years of NI contributions and sent it to them with my letter.
To be honest i think i have only 43 full qualifying years as their website states "Our records show you have 4 full years up to 5 April 1975"
So i finished school in June 1972 so how could i be paying NI contributions for the tax year 1971 - 72!!! 72-73 yes 73-74 yes 74- 75 yes.
anyone else having this type of problem
thanks
COVID

JoeCrystal

Something to do with Starting Credits that was introduced at the time maybe?

Do you have an option to top up your years?

molerat

Pre 2010 you were awarded credits for the tax years in which you reached your 16th, 17th and 18th birthdays.  You were 16 in Jan 72 so the 71-72 tax year.

Having 44 years does not necessarily mean you get a full new pension.  If you were in a contracted out pension you would not have earned much additional pension which would most likely have meant a lower pension starting amount at the 2016 introduction.

Have you any gaps post 2016, if so you should be able to fill one to get that extra £5.

Linton

It is likely that you were contracted out of SERPs, probably as a member of a DB pension scheme.  Have you got a pension forecast from https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension ?  If you let us know what it says including anything about "COPE" we should be able to explain more.

Many people believe that if they have 35 years NI they are entitled to a full state pension.  The 35 years only applies if you have spent your entire working life under the post 2016 state pension rules.  Obviously no-one is going to be in that position for another 30 years. Until then SP may be lower or higher than the current standard amount.

Joe Crystal is correct - in the 1970's people were given NI credits from the age of 16-18 whilst in full time education, I think to provide some encouragement to stay at school.

molerat

Linton said:

  Have you got a pension forecast from https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension ?  If you let us know what it says including anything about "COPE" we should be able to explain more.

Too late now as they have already reached pension age and I doubt they had one previously as they were expecting a full pension.

Marcon

covid1956 said:

Well i became eligible for the New State Pension in January and as i have 44 full qualifying years i thought i would get the full state pension but no i am about £5.00 a week short of the full state pension. 
So i was wondering why?
I have filled in the on line form querying this well over a month ago--- but no reply
I have also written to DWP at their Wolverhampton office and am waiting for their reply.
I have printed off the info from the website stating i have 44 years of NI contributions and sent it to them with my letter.
To be honest i think i have only 43 full qualifying years as their website states "Our records show you have 4 full years up to 5 April 1975"
So i finished school in June 1972 so how could i be paying NI contributions for the tax year 1971 - 72!!! 72-73 yes 73-74 yes 74- 75 yes.
anyone else having this type of problem
thanks
COVID

You're covered by transitional arrangements, covered at great length and in exhaustive (and exhausting!) detail here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-state-pension-if-youve-been-contracted-out-of-additional-state-pension/the-new-state-pension-transition-and-contracting-out-fact-sheet

The Pru's version of events is mercifully shorter and a lot clearer: https://www.pruadviser.co.uk/knowledge-literature/knowledge-library/the-new-state-pension/

As others have said, it is likely you were a member of a 'contracted out' pension scheme. What sort of private /occupational pensions do you have?

covid1956

thanks for the info however the GOV.UK website does state i have "44 qualifying years"  i opted out for a maximum of 4 years, but nowhere on the breakdown does it state that my opt out years do not qualify for the full new state pension.
thanks again for the info, i think if i pay an extra £300+ i will get another year so if ipay up in 18 months time iwould feel the benefit of the  extra fiver a week. At present with the way things are i will need that £300 to pay the energy bills
ta

Silvertabby

For reasons known only unto themselves, when DWP say 'full NI qualifying years'  they actually mean 'full financial years' and not 'fully paid up years' (ie, not paid reduced NI due to being contracted out).

molerat

covid1956 said:

thanks for the info however the GOV.UK website does state i have "44 qualifying years"  i opted out for a maximum of 4 years, but nowhere on the breakdown does it state that my opt out years do not qualify for the full new state pension.
thanks again for the info, i think if i pay an extra £300+ i will get another year so if ipay up in 18 months time iwould feel the benefit of the  extra fiver a week. At present with the way things are i will need that £300 to pay the energy bills
ta

Wher did you get £300 from ?  Is there a part paid year ?  A full year of class 3 is around £800.  They also are only available for 6 years. 

t0rt0ise

You must have been contracted out of the full NI at some time. I've got 48 full years and am still not getting the full rate. If you weren't contracted out ever, then you do have cause to query it and get them to check it.

nigelbb

Linton said:

It is likely that you were contracted out of SERPs, probably as a member of a DB pension scheme.  Have you got a pension forecast from https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension ?  If you let us know what it says including anything about "COPE" we should be able to explain more.

Many people believe that if they have 35 years NI they are entitled to a full state pension.  The 35 years only applies if you have spent your entire working life under the post 2016 state pension rules.  Obviously no-one is going to be in that position for another 30 years. Until then SP may be lower or higher than the current standard amount.

Joe Crystal is correct - in the 1970's people were given NI credits from the age of 16-18 whilst in full time education, I think to provide some encouragement to stay at school.

Not just in the 1970s & not just for those in full time education. Right up until 2010 everyone was credited with NI contributions for the tax year in which they reached the age 16 and for the following two tax years. The policy intention of these “Starting Credits” was to ensure that those staying on in education beyond the minimum school leaving age did not lose future benefit entitlement as a result.