Workers keep paying NI despite qualifying for state pension

Webb, pictured, revealed the figures in written answers to questions from Gordon Banks, Labour MP for Ochil and South Perthshire. The statistics show the number of people who had already paid enough NICs to receive a full state pension in 2010-11 was 430,000, compared to 70,000 in 2009-10. Previously, workers had to pay 44 years' worth of pension contributions, but in 2010 this was reduced to 30 years. NICs pay for state pensions as well as unemployment, illness and disability benefits. The NHS is also partially funded by NICs. NI cannot be accessed directly by the government fo...