State Pensions

The State Basic Pension

You will receive this in addition to your pension from the Westpac Banking Corporation UK Staff Superannuation Scheme.

The Single Person's Basic Pension is
£ 159.55 per week
(as at April 2017).

The State Pension

In April 2016, the Government reformed the State Pension system following the abolishment of contracting out.

There is now a single tiered system which gives a flat rate State Pension of £ 159.55 per week as of the 2017/18 tax year and is payable to all those who reached State Pension Age on or after 6 April 2016.

To qualify for the full amount of State Pension, you need to have 35 years of National Insurance contributions. If you have less than this, then you will receive a prorated ammount of State Pension as long as you have a minimum of 10 years of National Insurance Contributions.

For more information on your state pension benefits you should contact the Pension Service at the following address:
The Pensions Service 9, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 1LU
(please be sure to quote your National Insurance Number)
You can also contact the on the helpline number: 0345 3000 168
or visit the Government website

State Pension Age
The State Pension Age used to be 65 for men and 60 for women, but this is now being gradually equalized for both men and women.

Women born before 6 April 1950 will reach thier State Pension Age ar age 60. Women born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1955 will have a State Pension Age between 60 and 65, depending on their birth date. The Government is seeking to increase the State Pension Age gradually to 68 for both men and women.