How Much State Pension Will I Get If I Have Never Worked

Introduction

In the UK, the State Pension offers financial support in retirement, but many people wonder: How much State Pension will I get if I have never worked? Whether you’ve been a stay-at-home parent, an unpaid carer, or unemployed, this guide explains your options. We will break down the New State Pension, the Old Basic and Additional State Pension, and Partial pensions through NI credits and voluntary contributions. You’ll also learn how to maximize your entitlement and avoid missing out.

What Is the New State Pension and Who Can Get It?

• Contracted-out reduction – If you were in a contracted-out private pension before April 2016, part of your entitlement is deducted, requiring more than 35 years of NI to reach the full amount.

• Forecast & correction – You can check your State Pension forecast via GOV.UK and request corrections from HMRC if your NI record underreports credits.

• Pension “starter” credit – If you receive Child Benefit for a child under 12, those NI credits are automatic and don’t require a claim.

Who qualifies for the New State Pension?

• Men born on or after April 6, 1951, and women born on or after April 6, 1953, are covered.
• Requires National Insurance (NI) credits or contributions for a minimum of ten eligible years.
• To receive the entire sum, 35 years are required.

What is the full weekly rate?

• For the 2025/26 tax year, the full rate is £230.25 per week or £11,973 per year.

What if you have fewer than 35 years?

• Pension is calculated pro-rata: (Qualifying years / 35) x £230.25.
• Fewer than 10 years = no pension.

Can non-workers qualify?

• Yes, if they have NI credits from:
  • Child Benefit for children under 12
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
  • Carer’s Allowance
  • Other qualifying benefits
• Class 3 voluntary NI payments can cover gaps of up to six years.
• If they were contracted outside of SERPS/S2P, some may require more than 35 years.
• You can check your forecast online via GOV.UK to estimate your entitlement.

What Was the Old (Basic + Additional) State Pension?

• Graduated Retirement Benefit (GRB) – Paid from 1961–1975, the GRB adds a modest amount, tracked in your NI record and included in your Basic Pension total.

• SERPS vs S2P complexities – The Additional Pension included older SERPS and later State Second Pension (S2P), both earnings-related; entitlements vary widely depending on earnings history.

• Inherited part – Spouses/civil partners could inherit up to £105.70/week under Category B basic pension rules

Who was eligible?

• Men and women born prior to April 6, 1951, and 1953, respectively.
• These people become eligible for the State Pension prior to April 6, 2016.
• Their pension falls under the old system with two parts: Basic and Additional.

How much was the full Basic State Pension?

• £176.45 per week in 2025/26.
• Based on 30 years of contributions post-2010 (previously 39-44 years).

• The amount received could be higher with deferral bonuses or top-ups from Additional Pension schemes.

What about the Additional Pension?

• Also called SERPS (State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme) or S2P (State Second Pension).
• SERPS applied from 1978 to 2002; S2P followed until 2016.
• These pensions are earnings-related, meaning higher earnings result in higher payouts.
• If you were “contracted out” through a private or employment pension, you would not be eligible for Additional Pension.

Could you get a partial pension?

• Yes, even with fewer than 30 years, you can qualify for a reduced Basic Pension.
• Minimum requirement is 1 year for any pension under the old scheme.
• Example: 10/30 x \u00a3176.45 = \u00a358.82/week.
• Partial pension also allows access to other pension-related benefits.

What is the Graduated Retirement Benefit?

• Paid to workers who contributed to the system between 1961 and 1975.
• A small, additional sum added to your Basic State Pension.
• Calculated based on the number of units purchased during that period.
• This benefit is automatically included in your final pension calculation.

Inheritance rights under Old Pension

• Spouses or civil partners may inherit part of their deceased partner’s pension.
• It is possible to transfer up to 50% of the Additional Pension.
• In some cases, widows could receive up to £105.70/week under Category B pension rules.
• Entitlement depends on the late spouse’s NI record and if the surviving partner has low or no entitlement of their own.
• Inherited pension amounts are usually unaffected by the survivor’s own earnings or NI history.
• In some cases, the surviving spouse could receive the full Basic State Pension if they do not qualify on their own record.

How Does a Partial Pension via Credits or Voluntary NI Work?

• Eligibility to pay: Before travelling overseas to cover gaps, you must have lived or worked in the UK for three years in a row.

• Rates vary – For 2025/26, an annual Class 3 payment costs about £923/year, returning up to ~£34/week in pension – 3.8% weekly yield.

• Strategic decision-making – Guidance recommends weighing the breakeven point (often 5–10 years) before deciding if voluntary payments make sense .

What are NI credits?

Free credits given during:

• • Childcare
  • Caring for someone 20+ hours/week
  • Claiming certain benefits

How many years do you need?

• Minimum of 10 years for any pension.
• Full New Pension after 35 years; full Basic Pension after 30 years.

How much can you pay voluntarily?

• Class 3 contributions: Around £923/year for 2025/26.
• Can backfill gaps up to 6 years, and until 2006-2016 in special cases.

Is it worth it?

• Break-even typically within 4-6 years of retirement.
• Each year added can raise your pension by up to £650/year.
• Consider your health, life expectancy, and expected income before paying.

Quick Summary & Comparison

Pension Type	Birth Requirement	Full Weekly Rate	Qualifying Years	Partial Allowed?	Max for 10 Years
New State Pension	Born ≥ Apr 1951/53	£230.25	35	Yes	~£65.79
Old Basic + Additional Pension	Born < Apr 1951/53	£176.45 + extras	30	Yes	~£58.82
Partial via Credits / Voluntary NI	Any	Pro-rata	10-34	Yes	Varies

How Much Would You Actually Get With Zero Work History?

• Crediting specific years – Unpaid carers can get credits if they care 20+ hours/week, vital for achieving the 10-year minimum.

• Gaps history deadline – You must fill NI contribution gaps by 5 April each year, and until 2025, you could backfill all the way to 2006–07.

• Realistic examples – Diagram scenarios:

  • 15 years credits → New pension ≈ £98.67/week

  • 20 years → Old pension ≈ £117.63/week

No NI record?

• You will get no State Pension.

Have 10 years of credits?

• New Pension: ~£65.79/week
• Old Pension: ~£58.82/week

Can you top up?

• Yes. Buying more years increases payout.
• Online tools available on GOV.UK to check your record.
• Consider the cost vs. benefit of topping up if your life expectancy or retirement needs are limited.

How Can You Maximise Pension If You’ve Never Worked?

• If qualified, submit a claim for Child Benefit or Carer’s Credit.
• Check and correct your NI record regularly.
• Consider voluntary NI contributions.
• To raise the weekly amount (around 5.8% annually for New Pension), defer your pension.
• If your income is modest, you can apply for Pension Credit, which might lead to further benefits.
• Ensure that benefits like Universal Credit are claimed when eligible, as these may earn NI credits too.

What Happens If I Don’t Qualify for Basic State Pension?

• A means-tested payment called Pension Credit may be available to you.
• Consider applying for NI credits if eligible to increase future pension.
• Investigate whether spouse/civil partner’s record can help (Old system only).
• Review any private or workplace pensions.

Can You Get a Pension If You Are Not Working?

Yes, through:

• • NI credits during benefits or caring periods
  • Voluntary NI contributions
  • Spousal inheritance under certain conditions
  • Pension Credit if income is low

A minimum of 10 qualifying years is still required for any State Pension.

Increasing or Inheriting State Pension From Your Spouse or Civil Partner

Under Old State Pension, a spouse can inherit part of:

• • Basic Pension
  • Additional Pension
• Under New State Pension, inheritance is limited to Protected Payments.
• Marriage or civil partnership must have existed at time of death.
• Your 35-year record does not include monies that you inherited.

How Much State Pension Will I Get at 66?

You get the full amount only if:

• • After April 6, 2016, you attained State Pension age (SPA).
  • You have 35 qualifying years of NI contributions/credits.
• In 2025/26, full rate = £230.25/week.
• If you have fewer than 35 years but at least 10, you receive a reduced amount.
• Check your SPA and forecast on GOV.UK.

Other Important Considerations – How Much State Pension Will I Get If I Have Never Worked?

• State Pension freeze – If you live in countries without uprating agreements (e.g. Australia, Canada), your pension might freeze in value.

• Future age changes – State Pension age is 67 by 2028, rising to 68 by 2046, so deferred plan may shift due to these changes.

• Tax and NI interplay – Extra pension may push you into a higher Income Tax band, reducing net benefit from voluntary payments or deferral .

Triple-Lock Protection

State Pension increases annually by:

• • CPI inflation
  • Average earnings
  • 2.5%

Whichever is highest is applied.

Living Abroad?

• You can still claim UK pension.
• If the nation does not have a reciprocal agreement, pensions may be frozen.

Inheriting a Pension

• Under old rules, surviving spouses could inherit part of a pension.
• Doesn’t apply to New State Pension by default.
• Check eligibility for inheriting protected payments if your spouse reached pension age before 6 April 2016.

State Pension Age

• Now 66 for everyone.
• Rising to 67 by 2028, and 68 by 2046.
• Always verify your exact State Pension age using GOV.UK calculator.

FAQs – How Much State Pension Will I Get If I Have Never Worked?

Can I get a UK State Pension without ever working?

Only if you have at least 10 years of NI credits or voluntary contributions.

What are examples of NI credits?

Caring, Child Benefit, job seeking, and illness-related benefits.

How do I buy voluntary NI contributions?

Apply through GOV.UK. You have up to six years to pay.

Will my pension grow if I delay it?

Yes. Each 9-week delay boosts New State Pension by ~1%.

Can I inherit pension from my spouse?

Only under Old State Pension rules, with certain conditions.

What if my NI record has gaps or errors?

You can contact HMRC and submit evidence (e.g., payslips, benefit letters) to correct mistakes.

What happens if I move abroad?

Unless the UK and your new nation have a reciprocal arrangement, your pension may not rise every year.