Yes, it is possible to get a pension or retirement income without having worked, primarily through spouse/survivor benefits or government assistance programs based on age or disability. While a full state pension usually requires 10-35 years of National Insurance (NI) contributions or credits, you may still qualify through your spouse's record, or by filling gaps with voluntary contributions.
The exact amount you're entitled to will be based on the number of years you have National Insurance credits for. As mentioned, though, if you have less than 10 years' worth of NI credits or contributions, you won't usually be eligible for any State Pension.
Old Age Security (OAS) pension
Apply for OAS if you are 65 and older even if you have never worked or are still working.
But even if you never worked and therefore don't have an earnings record, you're not necessarily out of luck. If you're married (or were married) to someone who's entitled to Social Security, you can collect spousal benefits equal to 50% of your husband or wife's benefits at full retirement age.
You may not qualify for the Basic State Pension yourself because you haven't paid enough National Insurance contributions or received enough National Insurance credits. You may still be able to claim Basic State Pension in some situations. You could also be eligible for Pension Credit to top-up your income.
Pensions for the unemployed
If you are unemployed you can receive National Insurance credits towards your basic State Pension provided you receive or received Jobseeker's Allowance.
The "pension 5-year rule" refers to different IRS rules for retirement accounts (like Roth IRAs needing 5 years for tax-free earnings), beneficiary rules (requiring heirs to empty inherited accounts within 5 years), and specific employment pensions (like Federal or Congressional plans requiring 5 years of service for vesting or benefits). It can also relate to UK pension rules for overseas transfers (QROPS) or breaks in service for public sector workers, preventing tax avoidance or loss of benefits.
Many retirees with little to no savings rely solely on Social Security as their main source of income. You can claim Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but your benefit amount will depend on when you start filing for the benefit. You get less than your full benefit if you file before your full retirement age.
You usually need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance (NI) contributions to get the full State Pension. If you don't have enough, you can pay to fill gaps in your record to boost how much you get – even if you're already getting your State Pension.
A stay-at-home parent can get a Social Security check just like any other worker. Here's how. In order to qualify for a full Social Security benefit, you have to have worked 40 quarters, which equates to 10 years, earning a minimum of at least $1,640 per quarter.
The top ten financial mistakes most people make after retirement are:
You usually need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions to get the full amount. You'll still get something if you have at least 10 qualifying years - these can be before or after April 2016.
From 20 September 2025, the full pension is available, under the assets test, for homeowner singles whose assessable assets are under $321,500 – for homeowner couples the number is $481,500. The numbers for non-homeowners are $579,500 and $739,500 respectively.
The new State Pension is a regular payment from the government that most people can claim in later life. You can claim the new State Pension when you reach State Pension age if you have at least 10 years of National Insurance contributions and are: a man born on or after 6 April 1951.
If you have less than 10 years NI contributions, you won't receive any State Pension. If the number of years you have been contributing for is between 10 and 35 years then the amount you receive will be proportionate to the number of years you have been contributing.
To get a Basic State Pension, you need to have paid enough National Insurance contributions or received enough National Insurance credits. If you haven't paid enough National Insurance contributions, you may still be entitled. Visit our 'What if I don't qualify section' to find out more.
You'll need 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any new State Pension. A qualifying year is one in which you were: working and made National Insurance contributions. getting National Insurance credits for example if you were unemployed, ill or a parent or carer.
Running out of money in retirement means drastic lifestyle cuts, relying heavily on Social Security, needing to work longer, selling assets like your home, or seeking public assistance for essentials like food, housing, and healthcare, often leading to significant stress and reliance on family or government programs for basic needs.
what should you do if you haven't got a pension?
At a glance:
Any gifts exceeding $19,000 in a year must be reported and contribute to your lifetime exclusion amount. You can gift up to $13.99 million over your lifetime without paying a gift tax on it (as of 2025). The IRS adjusts the annual exclusion and lifetime exclusion amounts every so often.
Your home is not counted as an asset when calculating pension or payment, but it does affect how your pension or payment is assessed under the assets test. If you are a homeowner your asset value limit is lower than someone who does not own their residence.
People of pension age can have up to £10,000 savings in the bank before it affects their pension credit. So if you have savings over £10,000, it will start to count towards your income calculation. Every £500 over £10,000 will be calculated as £1 additional income per week.