Number of years you'll need to work to get full State Pension payments

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has released the latest statistics showing that the State Pension currently provides a regular financial income for 12.9 million older people across the country, including over one million retirees living in Scotland.

This payment is available to those who have reached the UK Government's eligible retirement age, which is presently 66 for both men and women, and have made at least 10 years' worth of National Insurance (NI) contributions.

However, many individuals nearing retirement age may not realise that to receive the full New State Pension payment of £221.20 each week, they will need approximately 35 years' worth of NI contributions. This figure is an average as some people may have been 'contracted out' and will require more NI contributions to qualify for the full amount - further information about this can be found on GOV.UK.

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Workplace and private pensions will supplement the State Pension in retirement, but many people may be depending on the contributory benefit as their sole income in retirement, so it's vital to know how many years you will need to make NI contributions to receive the maximum payout.

The State Pension age is scheduled to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028 with another planned increase to 68 set to occur in the mid-2040's.

If you're concerned about the number of years you need to work - whether retirement is far off or just around the corner - our helpful guide below should clarify how National Insurance contributions impact the amount of State Pension you'll receive. To qualify for any New State Pension payment, you'll need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record, but these don't have to be consecutive, reports the Daily Record.

How to get any New State Pension payment

This means that for at least 10 years, one or more of the following applied to you: you were employed and paid National Insurance contributions; you received National Insurance credits due to unemployment, illness, being a parent or carer; or you made voluntary National Insurance contributions. If you've lived or worked abroad, you might still be eligible for some New State Pension.

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You may also qualify if you've paid married women's or widow's reduced rate contributions - find out more about this on the GOV. UK website here.

How to get full New State Pension payments

To receive full New State Pension payments, it's important to understand that 'full' refers to the maximum amount of New State Pension a person can receive. You'll need approximately 35 qualifying years to receive the full New State Pension if you don't have a National Insurance record before 6 April 2016 - this may be higher if you were 'contracted out', find out more here.

Qualifying years if you are working

For individuals who have contributed between 10 and 35 years, they are eligible for a portion of the new State Pension, but not the full amount unless they purchase additional NI years. When you're working, you pay National Insurance and earn a qualifying year if: you're employed and earning over £242 a week from one employer or you're self-employed and paying NI contributions.

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If you're earning less than £242 a week, you might not pay National Insurance contributions. However, you may still get a qualifying year if you earn between £123 and £242 a week from one employer.

Qualifying years if you are not working

If you're not working, you may receive National Insurance credits if you cannot work - for instance due to illness or disability, or if you're a carer or unemployed. You can obtain National Insurance credits if you claim Child Benefit for a child under 12 (or under 16 before 2010), get Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance, or receive Carer's Allowance.

If you are not working or getting National Insurance credits

If you're not working or receiving National Insurance credits, you might be able to make voluntary National Insurance contributions if you're not in one of these groups but wish to increase your State Pension amount.

What if there are gaps in your National Insurance record?

Even with gaps in your National Insurance (NI) record, it's still possible to receive the full New State Pension. A State Pension statement can provide information on how much State Pension you may be eligible for.

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You can also request a National Insurance statement from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to verify if there are any gaps in your record. If such gaps exist that could hinder you from receiving the full New State Pension, you might have the option to earn National Insurance credits or make voluntary National Insurance contributions.

You can check your National Insurance record on the GOV. UK website here.