Your state pension age depends on your date of birth.  For women, this age is gradually increasing and will reach 65 by November 2018.

Thereafter it will rise to 66 for both men and women, then 67 and then 68.

To qualify for the full state pension, you now need to have 35 qualifying years, up from 30.

For those people with more than 10 years but less than 35, a reduced payment will be made.

We advise obtaining a state pension forecast that will show the number of years already paid and any shortfall. We can then advise on the best way to reach to the full payment.

Please note that voluntary class 2 contributions for the self employed will cease from 6/4/18.