A qualifying year is a tax year in which you paid, or were credited with, enough National Insurance to count toward your State Pension. You need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension, which is £241.30 a week in 2026/27, and at least 10 qualifying years to receive any new State Pension at all. Each year is logged for life against your National Insurance number.
How do I earn a qualifying year through work?
You earn a qualifying year by having earnings at or above the Lower Earnings Limit across the year, which is £129 a week (about £6,700 a year) for 2026/27. You can sit between the Lower Earnings Limit and the Primary Threshold and pay no National Insurance, yet still bank a qualifying year. That is why a part-time or low-paid year can still protect your record.
Can a year qualify if I was not working?
Yes, through National Insurance credits. Claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12, receiving Carer's Allowance, or being on Jobseeker's Allowance or certain sickness benefits can each give you a qualifying year without paid contributions. Credits matter because they stop caring responsibilities or unemployment from quietly creating a pension gap.
Why does a low-paid year sometimes fail to count?
Because earnings are tested per job, not added together. If you hold two jobs that each pay below the Lower Earnings Limit, neither reaches the threshold and the year may not qualify, even though your total pay looks comfortable. You can check your record and fill gaps with voluntary Class 3 contributions, but deadlines apply, so a missed year is worth spotting early.
Primary sources
- The new State Pension: eligibility — gov.uk — 35 qualifying years for the full amount, 10 for any
- Pensions Act 2014, section 2 — legislation.gov.uk — The minimum qualifying period for the new State Pension
- National Insurance credits: eligibility — gov.uk — How a year can qualify without paid contributions
- Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027 — gov.uk — Lower Earnings Limit of £129 a week for 2026/27
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