http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1965/51National Insurance Act 1965An Act to consolidate the National Insurance Acts 1946 to 1964, certain provisions made by statutory instrument thereunder, and certain related enactments.1965-08-05texttext/xmlenStatute Law Database2026-04-20Expert Participation2026-04-06 National Insurance Act 1965s. 36Pensions Act 2008s. 102(7)s. 149(1) 1965 c. 51An Act to consolidate the National Insurance Acts 1946 to 1964, certain provisions made by statutory instrument thereunder, and certain related enactments.[5th August 1965]Part I1Part II17361Subject to the provisions of the Act, graduated retirement benefit shall be payable to any person who is over pensionable age and who is entitled to a retirement pension, and shall be an increase in the weekly rate of his retirement pension equal to 18.51 pence for each unit, ascertained in accordance with subsections (2) and (3) of this section, of the graduated contributions properly paid by him as an insured person, the result being rounded to the nearest whole penny, taking ½p as nearest to the next whole penny above.2For the purpose of graduated retirement benefit , a unit of graduated contributions shall be £7.50.3Where a person’s graduated contributions calculated at the said rate do not make an exact number of units any incomplete fraction of a unit shall, if it is one-half or more, be treated as a complete unit.4Where a person's entitlement to graduated retirement benefit is deferred—aSchedule 2 to the Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) (No.2) Regulations 1978; andbSchedule 1 to the 2005 Regulations,shall have effect and both those Schedules shall be construed and have effect as if they were part of this subsection.4AFor the purposes of subsection (4), a person's entitlement to graduated retirement benefit is deferred—awhere he would be entitled to a Category A or Category B retirement pension but for the fact that his entitlement is deferred within the meaning in section 55(3) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, if and so long as his entitlement to such a pension is deferred;bwhere he is treated under subsection (7) as receiving a Category A or a Category B retirement pension at a nominal weekly rate, if and so long as he does not become entitled to graduated retirement benefit by reason only of not satisfying the conditions in section 1 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (entitlement to benefit dependent on claim),and in relation to graduated retirement benefit, “period of deferment” shall be construed accordingly.5For the purposes of subsection (4) of this section, the Secretary of State may by regulations provide for treating all or any of the graduated contributions paid by a person in the tax year in which he attained pensionable age as having been paid before, or as having been paid after, the day on which he attained that age, whether or not the contribution in question was so paid.6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7A person who attained pensionable age before 6 April 2016 and has claimed, but is not entitled to a retirement pension (except a person who is not so entitled because of an election under section 54(1) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 or because he has withdrawn his claim), shall be treated for the purposes of the foregoing provisions of this section as receiving a retirement pension at a nominal weekly rate:Provided that—athis subsection shall not confer any right to graduated retirement benefit on a person who would be entitled to a retirement pension but for some provision of the Act or of regulations disqualifying him for receipt of it; andbregulations may provide that any right by virtue of this subsection to benefit at less than a specified weekly rate shall be satisfied either altogether or for a specified period by the making of a single payment of the prescribed amount.8In this section and in section 37 below—“graduated contributions” means graduated contributions under the National Insurance Act 1965 or the National Insurance Act 1959;“insured person” means insured person under the National Insurance Act 1965 or the National Insurance Act 1946;“retirement pension” means retirement pension of any category under the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992;“the Act” means the Social Security Act 1975; “the 2005 Regulations” means the Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) Regulations 2005, and any reference in section 37 below to “section 36 of this Act” or to any of its subsections is a reference to that section or subsection as it is here set out.9This section and section 37 below and the Act shall be construed and have effect as if this section and section 37 below were included in Chapter I of Part II or that Act (contributory benefits); and references to that Chapter, that Part of that Act in any other enactment or in any instrument shall be construed accordingly:Provided that nothing in this subsection shall affect the construction of any reference to section 36 or 37 of this Act or of that Act or to any of the subsections of those sections; and any increase in the weekly rate of a person’s retirement pension, to the extent that it is attributable to subsection (4) of this section, shall be left out of account in determining the weekly rate of that pension for the purposes of section 30B(3) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, regulations 11(1) and 18(7) of the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit) (Transitional) Regulations 1995 and regulation 10(6) of the Jobseeker’s Allowance (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 1996 (rates of incapacity benefit and jobseeker’s allowance in transitional cases for persons over pensionable age).10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .371Subject to the provisions of this section and to Schedule 1 to the 2005 Regulations , where a person, having paid graduated contributions as an insured person, dies leaving a widow, widower , surviving same sex spouse or surviving civil partner and the survivor—ahas attained pensionable age at the time of the death; orbremains that person's widow, widower , surviving same sex spouse or surviving civil partner (as the case may be) when attaining pensionable age,then section 36 of this Act shall apply as if the increase in the weekly rate of the retirement pension of the widow, widower , surviving same sex spouse or surviving civil partner, as the case may be, provided for by subsection (1) thereof were the amount there specified by reference to his or her graduated contributions with the addition of one-half of the weekly rate of the graduated retirement benefit of his or her former spouse or civil partner (any amount including ½p being rounded to the next whole penny above) ....2For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, the weekly rate of the deceased spouse’s or civil partner's graduated retirement benefit shall (whether or not he or she was receiving or entitled to receive any such benefit) be taken to have been the weekly rate appropriate to the amount of graduated contributions paid by him or her (determined as if any orders which have come into force under section 124 of the Act (increases in rates of benefit) since the date of the deceased spouse’s or civil partner's death had come into force before that date), excluding any addition under section 37(1) of this Act, but including any addition under section 36(4) thereof (and for the purpose of calculating the addition under section 36(4), taking into account any addition under section 37(1)); and where at his or her death he or she had attained pensionable age but had not become entitled to graduated retirement benefit, that addition shall be computed as if he or she had ... become entitled to graduated retirement benefit immediately before his or her death.3A person’s right to graduated retirement benefit by virtue of this section shall be brought into account under section 36(4) of this Act in determining the graduated retirement benefit payable to him or her under the said section 36:Provided that, if the termination of the marriage or civil partnership by death occurred after he or she attained pensionable age, he or she shall for the purposes of this subsection be treated as not having attained pensionable age until the date of that termination.4A person’s right to graduated retirement benefit by virtue of this section in respect of a spouse he or she marries , or as the case may be, a civil partner he or she forms a civil partnership with, after attaining pensionable age shall be subject to such additional conditions as may be prescribed; and except as may be provided by regulations a person more than once married or who has formed a civil partnership more than once or who has been both married and a civil partner shall not be entitled for the same period to any graduated retirement benefit by virtue of this section in respect of more than one of his or her spouses or civil partners.5Regulations may provided that where a woman is entitled to graduated retirement benefit and to a widowed mother’s allowance the graduated retirement benefit shall be an increase in the weekly rate of that allowance; and where the benefit is such an increase, section 36(7) of this Act shall not apply.38Part III56Part IV64Part V83Part VI981181This Act may be cited as the National Insurance Act 1965.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Schedules 1—12.

Act not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 118(3); Act wholly in force at 6.9.1965Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. I, Sch. 3 Pt. I para. 7Ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force as amended by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2Act: power to continue certain provisions conferred (1.7.1992) by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992 (c. 6), ss. 5(1), 7(2), Sch. 3 Pt. II para. 15 (with s. 5(2))Act: power to modify conferred (E.W.S.) (6.9.1999) by 1998 c. 14, s. 11(1)(3); S.I. 1999/2422, art. 2(c), Sch. 1 (subject to transitional provisions in Sch. 14)Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 para. 7; and ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force (with modifications) by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 para. 7; and ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force (with modifications) by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2Ss. 36, 37: power to amend conferred by Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5), s. 150(11)Words in s. 36(2) (so far as continuing in force) substituted (6.4.2010) by The Social Security (State Pension and National Insurance Credits) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2206), regs. 1(3), 3(1) (with reg. 3(2))S. 36(4)(4A) substituted for s. 36(4) (so far as continuing in force) (6.4.2005) by The Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/454), regs. 1(1), 2(2)(a), 5, Schs. 1, 2S. 36(6) repealed by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. IWords in s. 36(7) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) substituted (as from 1.10.1989) by S.I. 1989/1642, reg. 5(2)(a)(iii)Words in s. 36(7) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) inserted (1.11.1995) by S.I. 1995/2606, regs. 1(1), 3 1959 c. 47. 1946 c. 67. 1975 c. 14. S. 36(10) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) omitted (6.9.1999) by virtue of S.I. 1999/2422, art. 3(3)Ss. 36, 37: power to amend conferred by Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5), s. 150(11) S. 37: power to extend conferred (1.7.1992) by Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4), ss. 62(1)(b), 177(4)Words in s. 37(1) inserted (6.4.2005) by The Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/454), reg. 2(3)Words in s. 37(1) substituted (6.4.2010) by virtue of The Social Security (State Pension and National Insurance Credits) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2206), reg. 4(2) (with reg. 4(4))Words in s. 37(1) omitted (6.4.2010) by virtue of The Social Security (State Pension and National Insurance Credits) Regulations 2009 (S.I. 2009/2206), reg. 4(3) (with reg. 4(4))Word in s. 37(2) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) substituted (1.10.1989) by S.I. 1989/1642, regs. 1, 5(2)(b)(ii)Word in s. 37(2) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) repealed (1.10.1989) by S.I. 1989/1642, regs. 1, 5(2)(b)(i)Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 para. 7; and ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force (with modifications) by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 para. 7; and ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force (with modifications) by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 para. 7; and ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force (with modifications) by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 para. 7; and ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force (with modifications) by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 para. 7; and ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force (with modifications) by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 para. 7; and ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force (with modifications) by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 para. 7; and ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force (with modifications) by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2S. 37(1) modified (13.3.2014) by The Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Married Same Sex Couples) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/76), regs. 1(1), 2(2)Words in s. 37(1) inserted (E.W.) (with effect in accordance with reg. 2(1) of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Married Same Sex Couples) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/76), regs. 1(1), 2(1); and inserted (S.) (16.12.2014) (S.) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 5(1)S. 37(1) modified (16.12.2014) by The Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 and Civil Partnership Act 2004 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3229), art. 1(2), Sch. 5 para. 5(2)Words in s. 36(7) (so far as continuing in force) substituted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act 2014 (c. 19), s. 56(4), Sch. 12 para. 53(2) (with Sch. 12 para. 87(1)(2))Words in s. 36(8) (so far as continuing in force) inserted (6.4.2016) by Pensions Act 2014 (c. 19), s. 56(4), Sch. 12 para. 53(3) (with Sch. 12 para. 87(1)(2))Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 para. 7; and ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force (with modifications) by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2Act repealed with saving by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1975 (c. 18), s. 2, Sch. 1 Pt. 1, Sch. 3 para. 7; and ss. 36, 37, 118(1) continued in force (with modifications) by S.I. 1978/393, regs. 2, 3, Schs. 1, 2Words in s. 36(9) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) substituted (7.10.1996) by The Social Security and Child Support (Jobseeker’s Allowance) (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/1345), regs. 1, 18Words in s. 36(9) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) substituted (21.3.1997) by The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/454), regs. 1(a), 5Words in s. 36(8) (so far as continuing in force) inserted (6.4.2005) by The Social Security (Graduated Retirement Benefit) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/454), regs. 1(1), 2(2)(b)Words in s. 37(1) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) substituted (5.12.2005) by The Social Security (Retirement Pensions and Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Widowers and Civil Partnership) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3078), regs. 1(1)(c), 2(4)(a)(ii)(aa)Words in s. 37(1) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Social Security (Retirement Pensions and Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Widowers and Civil Partnership) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3078), regs. 1(1)(c), 2(4)(a)(ii)(bb)Words in s. 37(2) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Social Security (Retirement Pensions and Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Widowers and Civil Partnership) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3078), regs. 1(1)(c), 2(4)(b)Words in s. 37(3) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Social Security (Retirement Pensions and Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Widowers and Civil Partnership) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3078), regs. 1(1)(c), 2(4)(c)Words in s. 37(4) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Social Security (Retirement Pensions and Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Widowers and Civil Partnership) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3078), regs. 1(1)(c), 2(4)(d)(i)Words in s. 37(4) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Social Security (Retirement Pensions and Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Widowers and Civil Partnership) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3078), regs. 1(1)(c), 2(4)(d)(ii)Words in s. 37(4) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) inserted (5.12.2005) by The Social Security (Retirement Pensions and Graduated Retirement Benefit) (Widowers and Civil Partnership) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/3078), regs. 1(1)(c), 2(4)(d)(iii)S. 36(4): power to replace s. 36(4) conferred (1.7.1992) by Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4), ss. 62(1)(a), 177(4)Words in s. 36(1) (as continued in force by S.I. 1978/393, Sch. 1) substituted (as from 1.10.1989) by S.I. 1989/1642, reg. 5(2)(a)(i)S. 37(1): sums amended (coming into force in accordance with arts. 1(4)(5), 7 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/148), arts. 1(3)(c), 11(4)Sum in s. 36(1) substituted (coming into force in accordance with arts. 1(4)(5), 7 of the amending S.I.) by The Social Security Benefits Up Rating Order 2026 (S.I. 2026/148), arts. 1(3)(c), 11(1)