Pensioners do not automatically get the full state pension, and some people may get less than others. However, there may be options for Britons to increase the amount of state pension they get.
The full new state pension is currently valued at £179.60 per week.
This provides a yearly amount of £9,339.20.
Whether or not someone can get this full sum depends on their National Insurance record when they reach state pension age.
To get the full new state pension, someone may need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions on their record.
READ MORE: Universal Credit rule change could make Britons earning up to £50,000 now eligible
People can check their National Insurance record via the Government site to see if there are gaps which need to be filled in order to qualify them for the full new state pension.
It is possible for someone to have gaps in their record and still get the full new state pension, as long as they still have a sufficient record overall.
There are three ways Britons can go about earning more qualifying years on their National Insurance record.
The first is through employment or self-employment.
Claimants of the following benefits could get National Insurance credits:
- Child Benefit for a child under 12 (or 16 before 2010)
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
The final way to improve someone’s National Insurance record is for them to pay voluntary contributions.
This could mean someone who has exhausted other options for boosting their state pension could still increase their entitlement.
