State Pensions

State pension, state pension is provided for by the Social Security Contributions and Benefit Act, NI, 1992, as amended.

The state pension comprises a current basic rate, £82.45 and an increment for adult dependents, £50.50. It is payable to women over 60 and men over 65. The ages will converge to 65 by 2020.

Entitlement to a full state pension requires class 1, 2, or 3 compensation contributions being paid for 90 percent of the years between 60 and retirement age. Where the record is incomplete, the benefit is reduced proportionately. The state pension does not depend on retirement although the dependent’s increment would be dependent on the above are Category A pensions.

Category B pensions are paid to married women. The rate is £50.50 and is paid at retirement age. Where spouses and partners are in receipt of Category A pension, this is effectively the Category A addition and is based on the spouse’s contribution.

Spouses who have their own Category A pension entitlement cannot add this Category B pension on the basis of spouse’s contributions.

The Category B pension for widows is £84.25 and paid to widows over pensionable age. This depends on spouses having fulfilled contribution conditions or having died as a result of an industrial injury.

Category B pension is £50.50. A non-contributory pension is payable to persons 80 or over with no other state entitlement or entitlement below this level.

Persons over retirement age may receive a pension under the state earnings related pension scheme based on earnings between 1978 and 2002. This was the place where the state second pension in 2002. The above allowed persons who are not in occupational schemes to make additional contributions. Are not in personal pension scheme.