Key facts
•State pension is a non-means-tested, contributory benefit, paid to people who reach pension age on or after 6 April 2016.
•State pension is an individual pension based solely on your own national insurance contributions (although there are some limited exceptions).
•You can qualify whether you are in or out of work.
•State pension is affected by the overlapping benefit rules.
•State pension is administered and paid by the Pension Service, which is part of the DWP.
•If you reached pension age before 6 April 2016, you cannot get state pension, but you may be entitled to an ‘old’ retirement pension instead.
•If you disagree with a decision on your state pension, you can apply for a revision or a supersession (see
Chapter 56), or appeal against it (see
Chapter 57). You must apply for a mandatory reconsideration before you can appeal.