Pensions
are paid to us when we get older or when we are unable to work through
ill health. How and when they are paid will depend on the
terms of that particular pension scheme.
State Retirement Pension This is paid by the Benefits Agency (Department for Work
and Pensions) when we reach retirement age. Retirement age is
different for men and women, but this is being changed so that
men and women will retire at the same age.
Women born before 6 April 1950
will not be affected. They will be
able to receive the state retirement
pension at 60.
Women born after 6 April 1955 will retire at age
65.
Those born between those dates will retire
at some time between 60 and 65 - contact your local Department
for Work and Pensions office for details.
The amount of State Retirement Pension is
based on how much National Insurance you have paid during your
working life. The way that it is worked out is too complicated
to show here as it has changed so many times.
The pension is split into:
Basic Pension
Additional Pension - based on earnings
Graduated Pension - based on National Insurance
Contributions between 1961 and 1975
An increase for certain dependants - such as
children
An age addition for anyone aged 80 or over
An addition for disability if a person
was on incapacity benefit shortly before retirement.
The pension will not be affected by
any other money you have coming in
to your household. It will count as
income against means-tested benefits
such as Council Tax Benefit and Pension
Credits.
State Retirement
Pension is accepted by Government
to be insufficient on its own to
live on. Many people claim Pension
Credit in addition to their pension.
This was introduced by the Government
in 2003 and replaces income support.
Pension Credits guarantee everyone
over the age of 60 an income of at
least:
