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Interaction with the additional state pension

Before 6 April 2016, there were two levels of state pension provision:

1. •

   the basic State pension—this was a flat rate broadly based on the amount of National Insurance Contributions (NICs) a person paid or was treated as having paid, and

2. •

   the additional State pension known as the State Second Pension (S2P)—as its name indicated, it was a pension paid on top of the basic State pension. It was related to an individual's earnings. Note that prior to April 2002, the additional State pension was known as the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS)

Before 6 April 2016, pension schemes could either 'contract in' or 'contract out' of the additional State pension.

If a pension scheme was 'contracted-in' to the additional State pension, members would receive the additional State Pension on top of their basic State pension (depending on their earnings).

If a pension scheme was 'contracted-out' of the additional State pension, scheme members would not receive the additional State pension. In exchange:

1. •

   the scheme had to provide