Official Statistics

State Pension coverage: Lower Earnings Limit and multiple jobs

State Pension and National Insurance and how they are affected by Lower Earnings Limit and multiple jobs.

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State Pension coverage: Lower Earnings Limit and multiple jobs

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If an individual has earnings in any particular job less than the Lower Earnings Limit (LEL) (£109 per week in 2013/14) they do not pay any National Insurance, and will not accrue a qualifying year towards the basic State Pension. Those who earn less than the LEL in two or more jobs are not liable to pay NI contributions and similarly do not accrue a qualifying year towards the State Pension even if, when combined, their earnings are above the LEL. In other words, earnings from separate jobs cannot be aggregated for pension purposes.

Updates to this page

Published 1 July 2013

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