35 articles tagged with State Pension.
NI credits explained -- who gets them automatically, who must claim, Class 3 voluntary NI at £824/year, and how credits build your state pension entitlement.
The new State Pension started in April 2016, but everyone's 'starting amount' was calculated from their pre-2016 National Insurance record. That's why forecasts show odd figures like £198.47 instead of £241.30 — here's the COPE mechanism explained.
Move to the wrong country and your UK State Pension is frozen at the rate it started at, for the rest of your life, while pensioners in the UK get annual triple lock rises. What determines which country you fall into.
What happens to your State Pension record if self-employed profits fall below the £7,105 small profits threshold in 2026/27, now Class 2 National Insurance is abolished for most.
A worked example of whether paying voluntary Class 3 National Insurance at £18.40 a week to fill a State Pension gap year pays for itself in 2026/27.
If you reached State Pension age before April 2016, you may have Additional State Pension (SERPS or S2P) on top of the basic pension. How it's calculated and uprated in 2026/27.
Grandparents who look after grandchildren while the parents work can claim National Insurance credits worth a full qualifying year towards State Pension — a widely underclaimed entitlement. Full guide to eligibility, backdating and how to apply.
The reduced-rate 'married woman's stamp' National Insurance election, abolished for new claims in 1977, still reduces State Pension entitlement for some women reaching pension age in 2026/27.
How deferring the new State Pension increases your weekly payment for life, a full worked example using 2026/27 rates, and how long it takes to break even.
How to check for gaps in your National Insurance record, what filling them with voluntary Class 3 contributions costs in 2026/27, and why the deadline matters for State Pension.
Deferring the new State Pension increases your weekly amount by 1% for every 9 weeks — about 5.8% for a full year. Worked example on the 2026/27 full rate of £241.30 a week.
How to check your National Insurance record for gaps and fill them with voluntary Class 3 contributions at £18.40 a week in 2026/27, with a worked example of the State Pension impact.
