The State Pension is a regular payment from the government most people can claim when they reach State Pension age. Your State Pension age depends on when you were born.
The amount of State Pension you’ll get depends on how many ‘qualifying’ years of National Insurance payments you have. This includes National Insurance contributions that you pay when you are working and contributions that are credited to you when you are unable to work.
You can find out your State Pension age and get an estimate of how much State Pension you could get on GOV.UK. If you do not have internet access Citizens Advice can help at your local office.
Check if you’ve been underpaid
If you reached State Pension age before April 2016, you might have been underpaid if you’re either:
- a woman and married, divorced or widowed
- over 80 years old and getting a State Pension of less than £85 a week
If you’re a man and under 80 years old, it’s unlikely you’ll have been underpaid.
If you’ve been underpaid, the DWP will probably have contacted you. If not, you might need to make a claim. Check by contacting the Pension Service.
Making voluntary National Insurance contributions
If you don’t have enough qualifying years to get a full State Pension, you may be able to make up gaps in your National Insurance record by paying voluntary contributions. There is a time limit for doing this. Visit www.gov.uk.
Contact Sherwood and Newark Citizens Advice:
- Newark office: Castle House, NG24 1BY – Tuesday and Thursday, 9.30am to 2.30pm
- Ollerton office: 5 Forest Court, NG22 9PL – Monday and Wednesday. 9.30am to 2.30pm
They also have a number of outreaches throughout the local area which may be closer to home – for dates and times check online or call them - Local office: 01623 861769 – you may be offered a call back
- Adviceline: 0800 144 88 48 or Relay UK – if you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 0800 144 8884 – Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm