1.3.1 The Basic Pension
- A flat rate for a single person, increased for a married
couple.
- Payable from 60 for retired women (although this will extend
to age 65, phased in over 10 years from 2010) and 65 for retired
men.
- A married woman may be able to claim an element of pension
based on contributions paid by her husband.
- To qualify for the full amount of basic pension, an individual
must have paid sufficient NICs during working life. This is
generally taken to mean paying for at least 90% of working
life between ages 16 and state retirement age. Reduced amounts
will be paid to those who have not satisfied this condition.
Class 3 NIC may be paid to make up this difference.
- A forecast of the Basic Pension due can be made available
by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) upon receipt
of form BR19. This may be useful to bring up to date missed
contributions that cannot be made up after state retirement
age.
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