Part 1State pension
State pension at the full or reduced rate
2Entitlement to state pension at full or reduced rate
1
A person is entitled to a state pension payable at the full rate if—
a
the person has reached pensionable age, and
b
the person has 35 or more qualifying years.
2
A person is entitled to a state pension payable at the reduced rate if—
a
the person has reached pensionable age, and
b
the person has at least the minimum number of qualifying years but fewer than 35 qualifying years.
3
The minimum number of qualifying years for a state pension payable at the reduced rate is to be specified in regulations and may not be more than 10.
4
In this Part “qualifying year” means a tax year, during a person’s working life, in which the person’s earnings factor (or the sum of the person’s earnings factors) is equal to or greater than the qualifying earnings factor for the year.
5
For earnings factors, see sections 22 and 23 of the Contributions and Benefits Act.
6
For transitional cases in which a person may be entitled to a different state pension (instead of a state pension under this section), see sections 4 and 12.
7
There are provisions elsewhere that affect a person’s entitlement to a state pension under this section or the rate at which it is payable.