State pension: 30 or 35 years of contribution required?

paddysreturn

I’ve just listened to the podcast in which Martin states that in most cases an individual will need 35 years of contributions to obtain a full state pension. 

However, the gov.uk website states: You usually need a total of 30 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits to get the full basic State Pension.

https://www.gov.uk/state-pension/eligibility

what am I missing?

molerat

what am I missing?

You’re eligible for the basic State Pension if you were born before:

• 6 April 1951 if you’re a man
• 6 April 1953 if you’re a woman

The "basic" state pension is for those reaching SPA prior to April 2016.

35 years is only 100% applicable to those starting out their NI history after April 2016.

Those with a pre 2016 history are on a hybrid scheme and may need 30, 35, 40 or even more years to reach the full new pension, I have 42 and do not have the full amount.  It is all down to your individual circumstances and the only way to find out your own requirement is with a pension forecast. https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

paddysreturn

Thank you for the explanation.

it seems a little strange to me that, even the gov webpage is using loose generalisations. 

Mine says 30. It initially felt like I was unfairly favoured, until I quickly remembered I’m still continuing to contribute after 30.

NoMore

Its not loose generalisation, its very specific, basic state pension is about before 2016, new state pension is about after 2016. 

Its just the definition is not clear and people often don't realise the difference.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

paddysreturn said:

Thank you for the explanation.

it seems a little strange to me that, even the gov webpage is using loose generalisations. 

Mine says 30. It initially felt like I was unfairly favoured, until I quickly remembered I’m still continuing to contribute after 30.

Your what says 30?

The link in your original post was about basic State Pension.

Are you entitled to basic State Pension or the new State Pension?

dunstonh

it seems a little strange to me that, even the gov webpage is using loose generalisations. 

It clearly states basic state pension and is correct in its written context.

molerat

paddysreturn said:

I’ve just listened to the podcast in which Martin states that in most cases an individual will need 35 years of contributions to obtain a full state pension. 

However, the gov.uk website states: You usually need a total of 30 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits to get the full basic State Pension.

https://www.gov.uk/state-pension/eligibility

what am I missing?

How about going to the correct link

https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension

You’ll be able to claim the new State Pension if you’re:

• a man born on or after 6 April 1951
• a woman born on or after 6 April 1953

The earliest you can get the new State Pension is when you reach State Pension age.

If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, these rules do not apply. Instead, you’ll get the basic State Pension.

You can claim the basic State Pension if you’re:

• a man born before 6 April 1951
• a woman born before 6 April 1953

If you were born later, you’ll need to claim the new State Pension instead.

Spot the difference.  No mention of years in the new State Pension text.

There is nowhere on your pension forecast that states how many total years you need for the full pension, it simply states how many years you currently hold and how many years going forward will take you to the full pension amount.

Where are you getting "Mine says 30" from ?

paddysreturn

Molerat says:

Where are you getting "Mine says 30" from ?

From the following link

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-your-state-pension/account

I have 29 years accumulated and only need 1 to reach the maximum of £185.15

pinnks

That will be because you have a mix of the basic state pension and additional pension from SERPS or S2P under the old rules, meaning that, by pure chance, your starting amount for the new state pension happens to be just £5 or so below the new max. 

molerat

paddysreturn said:

Molerat says:

Where are you getting "Mine says 30" from ?

From the following link

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-your-state-pension/account

I have 29 years accumulated and only need 1 to reach the maximum of £185.15

 It is quite possible to achieve the full amount with less than 35 years with a healthy pre 2016 S2P amount.

xylophone

I have 29 years accumulated and only need 1 to reach the maximum of £185.15

I'd suggest that you go to

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

What exactly does it show? See the sample forecast shown here.

https://www.which.co.uk/money/pensions-and-retirement/state-pension/your-state-pension-forecast-explained-aHd0S6f725a9

It would not be impossible for you to have reached a full NSP after around  30 years of contributions, especially if you  were never contracted out of SERPS/ S2P (Additional State Pension) during your working life.