70,000 will fail to qualify for state pension

Around 50,000 women and 20,000 men in their fifties and sixties are set to miss out entirely on the new state pension between now and 2030.

With just one month to go until the new state pension comes in, many people still have no idea how they will be affected by changes to the system. Under the current system there is no minimum qualifying period for the state pension so people are entitled to receive at least some state pension, even with only a few years of National Insurance (NI) contributions.

New rules for qualifying

However under the new rules, people with fewer than 10 qualifying years will not receive any state pension at all.

We're concerned that many others don't realise that they won't be eligible for the full state pension from April, unaware of the transitional arrangements which mean amounts paid directly from the state can vary.

That's why we're urging all those affected - women born on or after 6 April 1953 and men born on or after 6 April 1951 - to get information to help them plan their retirements effectively.

To help you understand what the new state pension means for you, We've published a new factsheet which is available for free by downloading it or by calling our national helpline on 0800 169 65 65.

Download the factsheet:

State Pension (PDF 360KB)

Order a pension statement

We're also advising all those approaching state pension age to order a pension statement from the Government's Future Pension Centre to check how much they are likely to receive. We fully support the aim of a simpler, fairer state pension - which should benefit many people with low lifetime earnings due to low pay and caring responsibilities.

However we're concerned that there are many approaching retirement, particularly women, who do not have a full NI record -perhaps because of years when it may have been difficult to work due to health problems or because they had low-paid jobs or voluntary roles.

Many people completely unaware of how they'll be affected

Age UK's Charity Director, Caroline Abrahams, said: ‘Big changes are about to come in to simplify the state pension system, yet we know that many people in their fifties and sixties are completely unaware of how they will be affected.

‘There is evidence suggesting that some people in this age group are so worried about what their finances will be once they retire that they are reluctant to think about it at all, but our strong advice is to take action now to find out exactly where you stand.

‘The reality is that the news will be good for some but disappointing for others, which is why it is so important for everyone approaching retirement to check their state pension age and what they'll receive when they reach it.

‘We would urge anyone who thinks they may be affected to get an updated state pension statement. They can also check our website or call Age UK Advice free of charge on 0800 169 65 65 for further information.

'The sooner you find out how you are affected - for better or worse - the sooner you can start making realistic plans for your retirement.'

Full new state pension

The full new state pension will be £155.65 per week for people reaching state pension age on or after 6 April 2016, but the amount people actually receive will be higher or lower depending on their NI contributions.

Our new factsheet explains how people who have been in a ‘contracted out' personal or workplace pension scheme - such as members of a public sector pension - are likely to see deductions for this full amount made because they were paying NI contributions at a lower rate.

It also provides impartial information on matters including how people can increase their state pension entitlement; how they can defer the state pension to boost their income; and how their benefits could be affected by the changes.

Download the factsheet:

State Pension (PDF, 360KB)

In some situations it may be possible for people to enhance their entitlement, for example by paying voluntary NI contributions or seeing if they are eligible (or were previously eligible) for NI credits such as Carer's Credit.

Any older person who is concerned about their state pension can contact their local Age UK or call Age UK Advice on freephone 0800 169 65 65.