State Pensions

The government offers UK citizens a basic State Pension. You are entitled to receive this benefit once you are over State Pension Age providing you have made sufficient National Insurance contributions. There is also an additional state pension, the state second pension which is essentially a top-up to the basic state pension. Furthermore, it is possible to qualify for certain state benefits, such as pension credit and income support. For details of the benefits offered by the state see this article. Your State Pension and several other state benefits will usually be subject to tax. There may be different rules which apply if you are not a UK national (see State Pension for Foreigners) or if you suffer from a disability (see State Pension and Disability).

For detailed information on the State Pension system in the UK, see articles:

• The Basic State Pension
• State Second Pension
• Pension Credit
• State Graduated Pension
• Over 80s Pension
• Early/Late Retirement and the State Pension
• State Benefits
• State Pension Tax
• State Pension for Foreigners
• State Pension and Disability
• State Pension & Family