Basic state pension | Practical Law

Basic state pension | Practical Law

Basic state pension

Basic state pension

Practical Law UK Glossary 4-375-9148 (Approx. 4 pages)

Glossary

Basic state pension

The main type of state pension payable in the UK to individuals who reached state pension age (SPA) before 6 April 2016. (The new state pension is payable to individuals reaching SPA after this date.) There are several categories of basic state pension (BSP):
  • A category A BSP is paid to an individual with a full record of National Insurance contributions (NICs).
  • A category B BSP is paid to the widow, widower or surviving civil partner of a deceased person when they are not eligible for a category A pension in their own right.
For the 2024/25 tax year, the full rate of a category A BSP is £169.50. For those who reached state pension age before 6 April 2016, the BSP is supplemented by the additional state pension.