Sandra Wrench<\/a> worked at the DWP for 42 years and says the issue affects older women who stayed at home before the late 1970s, carers working part-time, and workers who built up pension rights through workplace schemes before the system changed in 2016.<\/p>\n It comes amid ongoing debate over whether pensioners should start paying National Insurance again – despite current rules meaning you cannot build up extra State Pension<\/a> once you reach State Pension age. Below is what you need to know, who could be affected, and how to check if your record is complete.<\/p>\n READ MORE: State Pension payments from April – check your new weekly rate now<\/a>READ MORE: DWP given new powers to check bank accounts and take money directly from claimants<\/a>How much is the State Pension worth?<\/p>\n The full New State Pension is currently worth \u00a3221.20 a week – just over \u00a311,500 a year. It will rise to \u00a3241.30 a week from April 6, taking it to around \u00a312,500 a year.<\/p>\n Those on the older Basic State Pension currently receive \u00a3176.45 per week, rising to \u00a3184.90 in April.<\/p>\n However, not everyone gets the full amount. Your payment depends on your National Insurance (NI) record.<\/p>\n How do you qualify for the New State Pension?<\/p>\n You usually need at least 10 qualifying years on your NI record to receive anything at all. These years do not have to be consecutive.<\/p>\n A qualifying year is one where at least one of the following applied:<\/p>\n You were working and paid National InsuranceYou received National Insurance credits (for example while unemployed, ill, caring for someone or claiming child benefit)You paid voluntary National Insurance contributions<\/p>\n To receive the full New State Pension, most people need around 35 qualifying years. If you have lived or worked abroad, you may still qualify depending on the country involved.<\/p>\n Some women who paid the married woman\u2019s or widow\u2019s reduced rate may also qualify under different rules.<\/p>\n Three groups most at risk of missing the full State Pension1. Women who stayed at home before 1978<\/p>\n Sandra explained how women who had children before April 6, 1978 may be among the worst affected.<\/p>\n Before Home Responsibilities Protection was introduced, stay-at-home mothers did not automatically receive National Insurance protection while raising children.<\/p>\n That means some women built up gaps in their NI record during those years – reducing the amount of State Pension they now receive.<\/p>\n In some cases, this has left women on around 60 per cent of the old Basic State Pension.<\/p>\n If you were caring for children before 1978, it\u2019s worth checking your NI record to see whether you have missing years.<\/p>\n Full details on Home Responsibility Payment can be found on GOV.UK.<\/a><\/p>\n 2. Carers working part-time<\/p>\n Sandra said carers who work reduced hours could also fall short.<\/p>\n If your earnings are below the Lower Earnings Limit (currently around \u00a36,500 a year), you may not automatically build up a qualifying year.<\/p>\n However, you could still protect your record through:<\/p>\n National Insurance creditsCarer\u2019s CreditOr by paying voluntary contributions<\/p>\n Many carers don\u2019t realise they need to actively check this.<\/p>\n 3. Workers who were \u2018contracted out\u2019<\/p>\n Sandra explained that before April 2016, millions of workers were part of workplace pension schemes that were \u201ccontracted out\u201d of part of the State Pension system.<\/p>\n They paid lower National Insurance at the time, because part of their pension was being built up in their company scheme instead.<\/p>\n When the New State Pension was introduced in 2016, these workers often started with a lower \u2018starting amount\u2019 than the full flat rate.<\/p>\n They haven\u2019t lost money overall – but some have not reached the full New State Pension amount if they did not have enough qualifying years after 2016.<\/p>\n Full New State Pension<\/p>\n Weekly: \u00a3241.30 (from \u00a3230.25)Four-weekly pay period: \u00a3965.20Annual amount: \u00a312,547<\/p>\n Full Basic State Pension<\/p>\n Weekly: \u00a3184.90 (from \u00a3176.45)Four-weekly pay period: \u00a3739.60Annual amount: \u00a39,614<\/p>\n Other State Pension rates<\/p>\n Category B (lower) Basic State Pension – spouse or civil Partner’s insurance: \u00a3110.75 (from \u00a3105.70)Category C or D – non-contributory: \u00a3110.75 (from \u00a3105.70)<\/p>\n The new payment rates will start on April 6.<\/p>\n The tax year rule catching some people out<\/p>\n Sandra says there is also a little-known rule that can leave people frustrated.<\/p>\n You can only use complete tax years towards your State Pension.<\/p>\n If you reach State Pension age during a tax year, that year will not count – even if you paid enough National Insurance in it.<\/p>\n That has left some people paying contributions they cannot use towards boosting their pension.<\/p>\n How to check your NI record – and what to do if you\u2019re short<\/p>\n The quickest way to see where you stand is to check your National Insurance record online.<\/p>\n You can do this through your personal tax account on the GOV.UK<\/a> website. Search for \u201ccheck your State Pension forecast\u201d and log in using your Government Gateway details.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll be able to see:<\/p>\n How many qualifying years you currently haveHow many more you may need for the full amountWhether you have any gaps in your recordWhether you can improve your forecast<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t access the internet, you can request a paper forecast by contacting the Future Pension Centre <\/a>on 0800 731 0175.<\/p>\n What if you have NI gaps?<\/p>\n If your record shows missing years, you may be able to fill them. Below are some options to consider.<\/p>\n 1. Claiming NI credits<\/p>\n You may be entitled to credits if you were:<\/p>\n Unemployed and claiming benefitsOff work due to illnessReceiving Child BenefitCaring for someone for at least 20 hours a week<\/p>\n Some credits are automatic, but not all. It\u2019s worth checking.<\/p>\n 2. Paying voluntary contributions<\/p>\n You can usually pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions to fill gaps in the past six tax years.<\/p>\n This can cost several hundred pounds per year – but boosting your State Pension by even a small weekly amount can add up to thousands over retirement.<\/p>\n Before paying anything, it\u2019s strongly recommended you contact the Future Pension Centre <\/a>to confirm that topping up will actually increase your pension.<\/p>\n 3. Working longer (if you are below State Pension age)<\/p>\n If you are still under State Pension age, additional qualifying years through work can increase your final amount – as long as you have not already reached the maximum.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t assume you are getting the full amount<\/p>\n Many people believe they will automatically receive the maximum State Pension, but that isn\u2019t always the case.<\/p>\n A quick check now could mean hundreds – or even thousands – of pounds more over the course of your retirement.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not complicated. But ignoring it could be expensive.<\/p>\n Check your State Pension forecast online at GOV.UK.<\/a><\/p>\n Join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group<\/a> for money-saving tips, the latest State Pension and benefits news, energy bill advice and cost of living updates.<\/p>\n Sign up to our Record Money newsletter and get the top stories sent to your inbox daily from Monday to Friday with a special cost of living edition every Thursday – sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Recordmoney_<\/a> for regular updates throughout the day or get money news alerts on your phone by joining our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1771377867_625_20_JS184594118.jpg\")
State Pension Rates 2026\/27<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_DR-MOney.png\")
Get the latest Record Money news<\/p>\n