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State pensionable age meaning

What does State pensionable age mean?
The age at which an individual may first claim a State Pension from the state social security scheme. In the UK (England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), “State Pension age” is a statutory concept set by the Pensions Act 1995 (as amended, including by the Pensions Acts 2007 and 2014) and mirrored in Northern Ireland legislation. It has been equalised for men and women and changes over time under statutory timetables and periodic review. State pensionable age determines entitlement to the basic/new State Pension, is widely used across employment and pensions law (for example, as the upper age limit for automatic enrolment eligible jobholders, as a reference point in certain age discrimination exemptions, and in scheme design where benefits align to State Pension age), and affects National Insurance liability (employees cease paying Class 1 primary contributions at State Pension age). In Ireland, the equivalent qualifying age for the State pension (contributory) is set by social welfare legislation (including the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005). It is currently 66, with optional deferral available to increase payments; the means-tested State pension (non-contributory) uses the same qualifying age. Practitioners should check the applicable statutory schedule and any transitional provisions for the individual’s date of...
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View the related Practice Notes about State pensionable age

PRACTICE NOTES
Pensions glossary for family and matrimonial finance lawyers: schemes, tax reliefs, state pension, auto-enrolment, offsetting, PPF, valuation, drawdown and post-2024 lifetime allowance changes

A-day 'A-day' is the widely used term for the broad pension tax 'simplification' reforms that began on 6 April 2006. The changes covered: how much pension contribution was allowed, the kinds of schemes an individual could invest in, the sums that could be taken (and when), and the choices available for any remaining fund. A-day also introduced the annual allowance and the (now abolished) lifetime allowance. See: Annual allowance and Lifetime allowance. AFPS AFPS: Armed forces pension scheme; see Practice Note: Public sector pensions and family proceedings. Accrual rate The speed at which pension benefits build as pensionable service is completed in a final salary scheme, eg 1/60 for each year of pensionable service. Accrued benefits The benefits earned in respect of service up to a specified date. Added years Extra pension provided by adding further years of pensionable service in a salary-related scheme. Such additional years are secured via transfer payments or through additional voluntary contributions/augmentation...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK pensions glossary for private client and family lawyers

Accrual rate The speed at which pension entitlement builds as pensionable service is completed within a final salary arrangement, e.g. 1/60 for each year of pensionable service. Accrued benefits Benefits relating to service built up to a given date, measured with reference to current earnings or projected future pay. A-day ‘A-day’ is the widely used term for the broad pension tax ‘simplification’ reforms that came into force on 6 April 2006. These changes followed a 2004 government policy to rationalise the British tax system as it applied to pension schemes. The objective was to cut the volume of legislation accumulated under successive administrations, folding the previous eight tax regimes into a single regime for all personal and occupational pensions. Key areas covered included: how much pension contribution was allowed; the range of schemes an individual could invest in; how much an individual could withdraw (and when); and what could be done with the remaining fund. A-Day...

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