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Pensions can be a confusing topic, particularly as there are two types of State Pension available to people in the UK: The Basic State Pension, and the New State Pension. Not everyone will be eligible to receive a pension from the state as a series of rules and criteria apply.

If you reached State Pension age before April 6th 2016, you may be eligible for a Basic State Pension. This means women born on or before April 5th 1953, and men born on or before April 5th 1951. The full basic State Pension is £176.45 per week. Those who reached State Pension age on or after April 6th 2016 may be entitled to the New State Pension.

Who can get the Basic State Pension?

Not everyone qualifies for the Basic State Pension, and you might not be able to get payments if you haven’t paid enough in National Insurance contributions over the years. The number of qualifying years you need to get the Basic State Pension depends on circumstances.

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Men usually need one qualifying year if they were born between 1945 and 1951, or 11 qualifying years if they were born before 1945. Meanwhile, women tend to need one qualifying year if they were born between 1950 and 1953, and ten qualifying years if they were born before 1950.

The government explains: “You might still be eligible if you have fewer qualifying years. To check, contact the Pension Service or the International Pension Centre if you live abroad. The number of qualifying years of National Insurance contributions you have affects the amount of State Pension you’ll get.”

Qualifying years are those where you were working and made contributions, paid voluntary contributions, or got National Insurance credits.

However, the charity Turn2Us explains that you could still be able to claim a State Pension if your husband, wife, or civil partner paid enough contributions or received enough credits, and you have both reached State Pension age.

For those relying on a partner’s national insurance record, the maximum Basic State Pension is £105.70 per week if you are under 80 years old, and £105.95 per week after you turn 80.

Who can get the New State Pension?

The full rate of the New State Pension, available to men born on or after 6 April 1951 and women born on or after 6 April 1953, is £230.35 a week. However, the amount you get could be different if you were contracted out before 2016 and depends on the number of National Insurance qualifying years you have, and if you paid into the Additional State Pension before 2016.

To be eligible, you need ten qualifying years on your National Insurance record. You might also qualify if you have lived or worked abroad, or paid reduced rate National Insurance for married women, the government says.

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