Thousands of people ‘only receiving fraction of full state pension’

Sign up to our free money newsletter for investment analysis and expert advice to help you build wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth Sign up to our free money email for help building your wealth SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. We often talk about the full state pension amount, but these figures show how many pensioners are getting only a fraction of that Sarah Pennells, Royal London In general, to get the pension people need to have 35 years of national insurance contributions. We encourage those on the lowest incomes to claim for pension credit, worth on average £3,900 per year DWP spokesperson “One of the main reasons why people miss out on the full state pension is because they have gaps in their national insurance record, but they may not realise this until it’s too late to do anything about it. “Under the new state pension system, you don’t get any state pension at all if you have fewer than 10 years’ national insurance, so it’s important to check your national insurance contribution record.” Ms Pennells added: “You may be entitled to free national insurance credits if you’re caring for a child under the age of 12 by registering for child benefit, or if you’re caring for someone else who’s getting certain benefits. “Through our commitment to protect the triple lock over 12 million pensioners will benefit, with many expected to see their state pension increase by around a thousand pounds over the next five years.” Helen Morrissey, head of retirement analysis at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “The state pension forms the backbone of people’s retirement income so it is vital that you make sure you are receiving the right amount.