State pension

Find out how the State pension works - explained in plain English.

Ellie Lister avatar
Written by Ellie Lister
Updated over a week ago

This is the money the government currently gives each year to people over 'state pension age' (which is between 65 and 68 depending on when you were born). It is currently about £9k a year.

To get the full amount you need to have paid national insurance contributions for at least 35 years, otherwise you will receive less than this. Each year the amount of the state pension does increase a bit, but this is to keep up with increases in living costs (AKA inflation).

Don’t confuse the state pension with auto-enrolment, workplace or private pensions (all explained separtely). The state pension is totally separate to other pensions and isn’t linked to any other contributions.

Did this answer your question?