Basic State Pension
The National Insurance contributions you pay count towards your basic state pension. The amount you will receive at State Pension age depends upon how long you have paid National Insurance contributions. If you reach State Pension Age on, or after 6th April 2010, you need to have National Insurance contributions paid or credited for 30 years to qualify for the full amount.
To find out more about your National Insurance contributions and how they work please see Quick Links - Pension Service to visit the Pension Service website.
In 2011-12, the full basic State Pension is £102.15 a week. The full basic State Pension for a married woman using her husband's National Insurance record is £61.29 a week.
This means that a married couple could get separate basic State Pension payments totalling £163.44 a week. If they both qualify for a full basic State Pension they could get separate basic State Pension payments totalling £204.3 a week.
In all cases, your individual circumstances may affect the amount you get.
You can get a Retirement Pension Forecast from the DWP by filling in form BR19. Go to your local Benefits Agency office for a form or telephone 0191 2187585 and they will fill it in for you over the phone. Or you can ask for a forecast online. See Quick Links - DWP Website to visit their website.
We have carefully chosen a company called Origen (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority) to give Railways Pension Scheme members independent financial advice. See Quick Links - Origen to visit their website.