Part 1E+W+SState pension
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. 1 modified (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Northern Ireland Reciprocal Arrangements) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/287), regs. 1, 2(2)(h), Sch.
C2Pt. 1 excluded by S.I. 2007/1398, reg. 8(3) as amended (6.4.2016 coming into force in accordance with art. 1(2)(b)) by The Pensions Act 2014 (Consequential, Supplementary and Incidental Amendments) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1985), arts. 1(2)(b), 30(4)(a)
C3Pt. 1 modified (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Reciprocal Agreements) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/158), arts. 1, 2, Sch. 1, Sch. 2
C4Pt. 1 modified (6.4.2016) by The Social Security (Reciprocal Agreement) (Isle of Man) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/157), arts. 1, 2, Sch.
C5Pts. 1, 5 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Switzerland) (Citizens' Rights Agreement) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1303), art. 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
C6Pt. 1 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Ireland) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/622), art. 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
C7Pts. 1, 5 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Iceland) (Liechtenstein) (Norway) (Citizens' Rights Agreement) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1302), art. 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
C8Pt. 1 modified (1.1.2021) by The Social Security (Norway) Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1597), arts. 1, 2(1)(2), Sch. (with art. 2(3))
C9Pts. 1, 5 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Switzerland) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1088), art. 2(1)-(3), Sch.
C10Pts. 1, 5 modified (coming into force in accordance with art. 1(3) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Iceland) (Liechtenstein) (Norway) Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1060), art. 2, Sch.
State pension at the full or reduced rateE+W+S
2Entitlement to state pension at full or reduced rateE+W+S
(1)A person is entitled to a state pension payable at the full rate if—
(a)the person has reached pensionable age, and
(b)the person has 35 or more qualifying years.
(2)A person is entitled to a state pension payable at the reduced rate if—
(a)the person has reached pensionable age, and
(b)the person has at least the minimum number of qualifying years but fewer than 35 qualifying years.
(3)The minimum number of qualifying years for a state pension payable at the reduced rate is to be specified in regulations and may not be more than 10.
(4)In this Part “qualifying year” means a tax year, during a person's working life, in which the person's earnings factor (or the sum of the person's earnings factors) is equal to or greater than the qualifying earnings factor for the year.
(5)For earnings factors, see sections 22 and 23 of the Contributions and Benefits Act.
(6)For transitional cases in which a person may be entitled to a different state pension (instead of a state pension under this section), see sections 4 and 12.
(7)There are provisions elsewhere that affect a person's entitlement to a state pension under this section or the rate at which it is payable.
Commencement Information
I1S. 2 in force at 6.4.2016 so far as not brought into force earlier by an order, see s. 56(1)(4)
I2S. 2(3) in force at 5.2.2015 for specified purposes by S.I. 2015/134, art. 2(1)(4)(a)
3Full and reduced rates of state pensionE+W+S
(1)The full rate of the state pension is the weekly rate for the time being specified in regulations.
(2)The reduced rate of the state pension for a person is the following proportion of the full rate—
(3)Once the full rate has been specified, the power to make regulations under subsection (1) may not be re-exercised so as to reduce the rate.
Commencement Information
I3S. 3(1) in force at 23.2.2016 for specified purposes by S.I. 2016/203, art. 2(a)
I4S. 3 in force at 6.4.2016 in so far as not already in force, see s. 56(1)(4)