Non contributory retirement pension

The following information is only for people who have reached age 80 before 6 April 2016.

The non-contributory State retirement pension is not available to people who will be aged 80 on or after 6 April 2016.

What is it?

Non-contributory retirement pension (or “Category D” State retirement pension as it is formally known) can be paid to you if:

• you reached aged 80 before 6 April 2016; and
• you have not paid enough National Insurance contributions (NICs) in the IOM or the UK to receive a State retirement pension based on NICs, or you receive a State retirement pension based on your NICs paid in the IOM or the UK at a lower rate than the non-contributory State retirement pension.

Basic qualifying conditions

To qualify you must:

• be aged 80 or over
• normally be resident in the Isle of Man at the time of your claim
• have lived in the IOM or the UK for at least 10 years in any 20-year period after your 60th birthday
• not receive any other NI contribution-based pension or benefit, except Graduated Retirement Benefit, Additional Pension or Guaranteed Minimum Pension.

If you receive a Category A or B State retirement pension, this must be at a rate which is less than the non-contributory State retirement pension.

How much could I get and how am I paid?

See Benefits Rates for the current maximum rate of the non-contributory State retirement pension.

If you receive a Category A or B State retirement pension which is less than the maximum rate of the non-contributory State retirement pension then, subject to your meeting the other qualifying conditions, the rate of non-contributory State retirement pension payable to you will be the difference between the two.

How and when should I apply?

A claim form can be requested from and returned with your birth certificate (marriage certificate in the case of a woman) to: