The State Pension was first introduced on 1 January 1909. The foundation of a universal contribution-related basic State Pension was laid in the 1940s. There are two main types of State Pension: contributory and non-contributory. Contributory State Pension consists of any combination of a Basic Pension (BP), Additional Pension (AP) or Graduated Retirement Benefit (GRB). Non-contributory pension consists of a Basic Pension plus any Gradu...

Pension Credit was introduced in October 2003. It is a non-contributory, income-related benefit. Its purposes are: To lift the poorest pensioners out of poverty by providing a contribution to a minimum guaranteed income for those aged 60 and over living in Great Britain. To reward those aged 65 and over who have made modest provision for their retirement. It is not necessary to have paid National Insurance contributions ...