The effect of your State Pensions

State Pensions are paid in addition to your scheme benefits.

State Pensions are paid from State Pension age - currently age 65 for men and between ages 60 and 65 for women, depending on their date of birth. The State Pension age is gradually set to increase over the coming years to 68.

You can get information on how to obtain an estimate of the State Pension you have earned to date and the likely amount payable at State Pension age.

The State Pension is in two parts; the basic State Pension and the State Second Pension (S2P).

Benefits built up before April 2011

If you are were a member of the scheme before 1 April 2011 you would not have been earning any S2P. This is because you would have paid a reduced rate of National Insurance contributions in return for the scheme providing you with minimum benefits to replace those that would have been provided by the State.

Before 6 April 1997 the scheme had to give you a guaranteed minimum pension (GMP). This will be about equal to the earnings-related pension you would have earned in the State scheme. In reality, your overall pension from the scheme is likely to be much higher.

If your overall pension from the scheme turns out to be lower than your GMP, we will make sure that we bring your pension up to the minimum level when you reach age 65 (60 for females).

Changes in pensions law meant that GMPs were not earned after 5 April 1997. Instead, the scheme had to meet minimum benefit and funding levels.

From 1 April 2011, you will earn the State Second Pension (S2P) as well as the basic State Pension.