Pensioners are being reminded that they need to have made National Insurance (NI) contributions for a certain number of years to receive their full pension payment. You could fall short of reaching the maximum amount.

Recent figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveal the State Pension currently supports 13 million elderly individuals nationwide with a steady income stream. This benefit is accessible to those who have attained the UK Government’s qualifying retirement age, presently set at 66 for both genders, and have accumulated a minimum of 10 years of NI contributions.

According to the Daily Record, it’s crucial to note the retirement age is set to increase to 67 from April. Numerous individuals nearing retirement may be unaware that securing the complete New State Pension payment of £230.25 weekly requires approximately 35 years of NI contributions.

This figure represents an average, as certain individuals who were “contracted out” will require additional NI contributions to qualify for the maximum amount – further details are available on GOV.UK. Whilst workplace and personal pensions will supplement the State Pension during retirement, numerous people may depend solely on this contributory benefit as their retirement income, making it essential to understand the required NI contribution period to secure the full payment. The State Pension age is also scheduled to rise from 67 to 68 during the mid-2040s.

For those concerned about the duration of their working life – whether retirement seems distant or is approaching within a few years – the guidance provided below ought to clarify how National Insurance contributions influence the State Pension amount you’ll receive.

How to get any New State Pension payment

You will need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to qualify for any State Pension, but they don’t have to be 10 qualifying years in a row.

This means for 10 years at least one or more of the following applied to you:

• You were working and paid National Insurance contributions
• You were getting National Insurance credits for example if you were unemployed, ill, a parent or a carer
• You were paying voluntary National Insurance contributions

If you have lived or worked abroad you might still be able to get some New State Pension.

You might also qualify if you have 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

The first thing to understand is the term ‘full’ means the maximum amount of New State Pension a person can receive.

You will need around 35 qualifying years to receive the full New State Pension if you do not have a National Insurance record before 6 April 2016 – this may be more if you were ‘contracted out’, find out more here.

For people who have contributed between 10 and 35 years, they are entitled to a portion of the new State Pension, but not the full amount unless they buy additional NI years.

Qualifying years if you are working

When you are working you pay National Insurance and get a qualifying year if:

• You’re employed and earning over £242 a week from one employer
• You’re self-employed and paying NI contributions

You might not pay National Insurance contributions because you’re earning less than £242 a week. You may still get a qualifying year if you earn between £123 and £242 a week from one employer – find out more here.

Qualifying years if you are not working

You may get National Insurance credits if you cannot work – for example because of illness or disability, or if you’re a carer or you’re unemployed.

You can get 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
• Receive Carer’s Allowance

If you are not working or getting National Insurance credits

You might be able to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions if you’re not in one of these groups but want to increase your State Pension amount. Find out more on the GOV.UK website here.

What if there are gaps in your National Insurance record?

You can have gaps in your NI record and still get the full New State Pension. You can get a State Pension statement which will tell you how much State Pension you may get. You can then apply for a National Insurance statement from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to check if your record has gaps.

If you have gaps in your National Insurance record that would prevent you from getting the full New State Pension, you may be able to:

• Get National InsuranceI credits
• Make voluntary National Insurance contributions

Check your National Insurance record on GOV.UK here.

Check your State Pension age

Check your State Pension age to find out when you can retire and claim State pension using the free online tool at GOV.UK here.

• When you will reach State Pension age
• Your Pension Credit qualifying age

We have a dedicated section for the latest news on the State Pension here.