State Pension Calculator

State Pension in 2026/27

The full new State Pension is £11,973 per year (£230.25 per week) in 2026/27. It increased under the triple lock guarantee, which ensures it rises each April by the highest of earnings growth, inflation (CPI), or 2.5%. You need 35 qualifying National Insurance years to receive the full amount.

The State Pension age is currently 66 for both men and women. It is scheduled to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and to 68 between 2044 and 2046, though this timetable may change following government reviews.

How qualifying years work

A qualifying year is a tax year in which you paid (or were credited with) National Insurance contributions above a minimum threshold. You need a minimum of 10 qualifying years to receive any State Pension; below 10 years you receive nothing. Between 10 and 35 years you receive a proportional amount, for example, 25 qualifying years gives you 25/35 of the full pension (around £8,552 in 2026/27).

NI credits are automatically awarded during periods of unemployment (if you claim benefits), illness or disability, caring responsibilities, or approved training. Parents claiming Child Benefit are also credited, one reason it's worth claiming even if you intend to opt out of payments.

Filling gaps in your NI record

Voluntary Class 3 NI contributions can fill gaps in your record at a cost of £17.45 per week (£907.40 per year) in 2026/27. Given that one extra qualifying year adds roughly £342 per year to your State Pension, and the average person draws the pension for 20+ years, plugging gaps is often a highly cost-effective investment.

You can check your NI record and forecast via the HMRC personal tax account at gov.uk. Gaps from the last six years can usually be filled; some older gaps require contacting HMRC directly. The deadline for filling gaps back to 2006 was extended, but rules change, check current guidance before acting.

Deferring your State Pension

If you delay claiming your State Pension past State Pension age, it grows by 1% for every 9 weeks you defer (roughly 5.8% per year). This can be worthwhile if you're still working and don't need the income immediately, though you'll need to live long enough to break even on the deferred amount.