What is the new State Pension?

The new State Pension was introduced for those reaching State Pension Age on or after 6 April 2016. The full amount is £221.20 per week (2026/27), payable to those with 35 or more qualifying National Insurance years. You need at least 10 qualifying years to receive any State Pension. The old basic State Pension (£169.50/week) applies to those who reached SPA before April 2016.

What is a qualifying National Insurance year?

A qualifying year is a tax year in which you paid (or were credited with) enough National Insurance contributions to count toward your State Pension. You accumulate qualifying years through employment, self-employment (paying Class 2 NI), or NI credits (e.g. if claiming Child Benefit, Carer's Allowance, or when receiving certain benefits). You can check your NI record on the HMRC website.

Can I top up my NI record?

Yes, you can pay voluntary Class 3 NI contributions to fill gaps in your record, currently at £17.45 per week (£907.40 per year) for 2026/27. Given the full State Pension is worth £11,502 per year, filling a gap year can pay for itself in under a year of pension. Gaps can generally be filled for the past 6 tax years, though under a current extension scheme you can fill gaps back to 2006 until April 2025.

What is State Pension Age?

State Pension Age (SPA) is currently 66 for both men and women. It is being raised to 67 between 2026 and 2028 (for those born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977), and a rise to 68 is planned for those born after 1977, though the exact timetable is subject to review. You will not receive your State Pension automatically; you must claim it.

Can I defer my State Pension?

Yes. For every 9 weeks you defer, your weekly State Pension increases by 1% (roughly 5.8% per year). If you defer for a full year, you'd receive an extra £12.82/week (2026/27). Deferral makes sense if you're still working and don't need the income immediately, or if you have a long life expectancy.

State Pension Calculator

Estimate your UK State Pension based on your National Insurance record. See how many more qualifying years you need for the full amount.

Your details

Current age

Year of birth

Used to determine your State Pension Age

NI qualifying years so far

Check your NI record on the HMRC website. 35 years gives the full pension.

Your results

£221.20/week Based on 35 of 35 Qualifying Years

Estimated State Pension

£221.20/week

£11,502 per year · From age 68

Monthly equivalent: £959
State Pension Age: 68
Projected qualifying years: 35 of 35 ✓

Breakdown

State Pension Age: 68
Years until State Pension: 28 years
Current qualifying years: 18 of 35
Projected qualifying years at SPA: 35 of 35 ✓

You are on track to receive the full State Pension of £221.20/week (£11,502/year).

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.

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Frequently asked questions

State Pension Guide

How the new State Pension works

The new State Pension replaced the old basic State Pension and SERPS/S2P system in April 2016. It applies to men born on or after 6 April 1951 and women born on or after 6 April 1953. If you were born before those dates you receive the old basic State Pension under a different set of rules. In 2026/27 the full new State Pension is £11,973 per year (£230.25 per week).

The triple lock guarantee

The triple lock is a government commitment to increase the State Pension each April by whichever is highest of: average earnings growth, CPI inflation, or 2.5%. It has been in place since 2011 and has delivered significant real-terms increases over that period, though it is reviewed by each parliament and could in principle be changed.

Qualifying years in detail

A qualifying year is a tax year in which you paid, or were credited with, National Insurance contributions. You need at least 10 qualifying years to receive any pension at all, and 35 qualifying years for the full amount. Between 10 and 35 years you receive a proportional amount: 20 years gives you 20/35 of the full pension (around £6,842 in 2026/27). NI credits are automatically given for periods of unemployment while claiming benefits, long-term illness, caring responsibilities, and approved training. Parents claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12 also receive credits, one reason it's worth claiming even if you intend to opt out of the payments themselves.

Filling gaps: is it worth it?

Voluntary Class 3 NI contributions let you buy back missing qualifying years at a cost of £17.45 per week (£907.40 per year) in 2026/27. One extra year adds roughly £342 per year to your State Pension for life. If you draw the pension for 20 years the payback period is under three years, making gap-filling one of the best-value financial decisions available to many people. You can check your NI record and obtain a State Pension forecast at the HMRC personal tax account on GOV.UK. The ability to fill gaps more than six years old has been extended but has deadlines, check current guidance before acting.

State Pension age

The State Pension age is currently 66 for both men and women. Under current legislation it will rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and to 68 between 2044 and 2046, though a government review may bring the rise to 68 forward to the late 2030s. You can defer claiming past your State Pension age: for every 9 weeks you defer, your pension grows by 1% (roughly 5.8% per year). You can take the increase as higher weekly payments or, in some circumstances, as a lump sum.

State Pension and income tax

The State Pension is taxable income, but it is paid gross (without tax deducted at source). If your total income in retirement exceeds your Personal Allowance (£12,570 in 2026/27), tax is usually collected either through PAYE on a private pension or via a self-assessment return. With the full State Pension at £11,973, only an additional £597 of income would take you over the allowance, something worth planning for if you have workplace or private pensions on top.

State Pension by qualifying years

2026/27 rates. Full pension requires 35 qualifying years; minimum 10 years to receive anything.

Qualifying years	Weekly pension	Annual pension	% of full
10 (minimum)	£65.79	£3,421	29%
15 years	£98.68	£5,131	43%
20 years	£131.57	£6,842	57%
25 years	£164.46	£8,552	71%
30 years	£197.36	£10,263	86%
35 years (full)	£230.25	£11,973	100%

Years beyond 35 do not increase the pension further. Each year between 10 and 35 adds approximately £342/year (£6.58/week).

How this calculator works

What it calculates: An estimate of your new State Pension based on your current age, birth year, and number of qualifying National Insurance years. Shows your weekly and annual pension and how many more qualifying years you need for the full amount.
Key assumptions: New State Pension rules (born after April 1951/1953)
Full pension = 35 qualifying years at £230.25/week
State Pension age of 66 (rising to 67 from 2026)
No deferral or deduction for contracted-out periods
Data sources: DWP State Pension rates 2026/27
Pensions Act 2014 (new State Pension framework)
GOV.UK – Check your State Pension forecast
When it may not be accurate: This is an estimate only. Your actual pension may differ if you were contracted out of the Additional State Pension before 2016, have gaps or credits not yet recorded, or reach State Pension age after the age increase to 67 or 68. Always check your forecast via the HMRC personal tax account on GOV.UK.

Sources & methodology

Built and maintained by UK Money Tools, a personal finance resource (not a financial adviser). Last reviewed April 2026. Rates and thresholds come from official UK government publications.

HMRC: Income Tax rates and allowances · Official rates, bands and thresholds
GOV.UK: National Insurance rates · Employee and employer NI rates
Scottish Government: Income Tax · Scottish income tax rates and bands
The Pensions Regulator: Auto-enrolment · Qualifying earnings and contribution thresholds
GOV.UK: Tax on your private pension · Tax relief rules and annual allowances
HMRC: Pension schemes · Salary sacrifice and pension scheme types

Figures are estimates only. This is not financial or tax advice. For help with your specific situation, speak to HMRC or a qualified adviser.