State Pension Calculator UK 2026/27
How Much Is the State Pension? Calculate Your UK State Pension Forecast
Find out how much State Pension you could receive based on your National Insurance contributions. This free State Pension calculator gives you a quick forecast of your weekly, monthly and annual amount, fully updated with the latest 2026/27 rates.
How much is the State Pension in 2026/27? The full new State Pension is £241.30 per week (£12,547.60/year) for 35 qualifying years — an increase of 4.8% from April 2026 under the triple lock. You need a minimum of 10 qualifying years to receive any State Pension.
2026/27 State Pension Key Figures
- Full new State Pension (2026/27): £241.30 per week (£12,547.60 per year)
- Qualifying years for full pension: 35 years
- Minimum qualifying years: 10 years (to receive any new State Pension)
- Each qualifying year is worth: £6.89 per week (£358.50 per year)
- Triple lock increase (April 2026): 4.8% increase from £230.25/week (2025/26 rate)
Note: The £241.30/week rate applies to people reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 with 35 full qualifying years. The calculator above uses the most current published DWP rate.
Your Details
2026/27 State Pension Rates
| Pension Type | Weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Full New State Pension 35 qualifying years |
£241.30 | £12,547.60 |
| Old Basic State Pension 30 qualifying years |
£184.90 | £9,614.80 |
| Minimum Years Required | 10 years (new) / 1 year (old) | |
| Per Qualifying Year (new) | £6.89 | £358.50 |
Voluntary NI Contributions 2026/27
Fill gaps in your record by paying Class 3 voluntary contributions:
- Cost: £17.75/week = £923.00/year
- Gain: £6.89/week = £358.50/year extra pension
- Payback: ~2.8 years of retirement
- Deadline: 6 years to backdate (some extensions available)
UK State Pension Age Timeline
State Pension age depends on your date of birth. It is gradually increasing and will reach 68 for younger generations:
State Pension age: 66 (already reached)
State Pension age: 66 to 67 (increasing by 1 month for each month of birth)
State Pension age: 67 (between 2028 and 2044)
State Pension age: 68 (proposed - subject to government review)
Official UK State Pension Resources
Essential government resources for checking your State Pension and planning retirement:
Check State Pension Forecast
Get your official pension forecast showing current entitlement, forecast amount, and gaps in your record.
Check NI Record
View your full contribution history, identify gaps, see which years qualify, and find errors to dispute.
Voluntary NI Contributions
Fill gaps in your record. Get cost calculations and apply to buy missing years.
NI Credits
Claim free qualifying years for carers, parents, unemployed, and those on benefits.
State Pension Age Calculator
Find your exact State Pension age and the date you can start claiming.
MoneyHelper Guidance
Free impartial guidance from the government-backed service. Includes tools, guides, and phone helpline.
Frequently Asked Questions About UK State Pension
The full new State Pension for 2026/27 is £241.30 per week (£12,547.60 per year). You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions for the full amount and a minimum of 10 qualifying years to receive any pension. Each qualifying year adds approximately £6.89 per week (£358.50 per year). The old basic State Pension (pre-April 2016) is £184.90 per week for 30 qualifying years.
The State Pension age is currently 66 for both men and women. It is rising to 67 between May 2026 and March 2028 for those born after 5 March 1961. For those born after 5 April 1977, it is expected to rise to 68, though this timeline is subject to government review. Use the official gov.uk calculator to find your exact date.
For the new State Pension (post-April 2016), you need 35 qualifying years for the full amount and a minimum of 10 years to receive any pension. For the old basic State Pension (pre-April 2016), you needed 30 qualifying years.
Yes, voluntary Class 3 NI contributions cost £17.75 per week (£923.00 per year) in 2026/27. Each year you buy adds approximately £6.89/week (£358.50/year) to your pension, giving a payback period of around 2.6 years. You can typically go back 6 years. Check gov.uk for current rates.
Yes. For every 9 weeks you defer, your pension increases by 1% (approximately 5.8% per year). There is no maximum deferral period. Deferring for 1 year on £241.30/week would increase it by approximately £13.99/week (£727/year) for life. This is most beneficial if you are in good health and do not need the income immediately.
Yes, the State Pension is taxable income, but it is paid gross without tax deducted. If your total income including State Pension exceeds the Personal Allowance (£12,570 in 2026/27), you will pay income tax. This is usually collected through adjustment of tax codes on other income or through Self Assessment.
The triple lock guarantees that the State Pension increases each April by the highest of: average earnings growth, inflation (CPI), or 2.5%. In April 2026, the State Pension rose by 4.8% under the triple lock. This mechanism ensures pensions keep pace with the cost of living.
Example: Deferring 1 year on full new State Pension adds ~£727/year for life. Deferring 2 years adds ~£1,455/year.
Deferral makes sense if: you're still working and don't need the income, you're a higher rate taxpayer now (saves 40% tax), you expect to live 15+ years after claiming.
Yes, the State Pension counts as taxable income. However, it is paid gross without tax deducted at source.
If your total income (State Pension + other income) exceeds the Personal Allowance (£12,570 in 2026/27), you will pay income tax. This is collected by:
- Adjustment of PAYE tax code on workplace pension or employment
- Self Assessment if no other PAYE income
Note: Full new State Pension (£12,547.60/year) is still just below the £12,570 Personal Allowance, so State Pension alone won't incur tax unless you have other income.
The triple lock is a government guarantee that the State Pension increases each April by the highest of:
- Average earnings growth
- Inflation (CPI)
- 2.5% minimum
In April 2026, the State Pension rose by 4.8% under the triple lock, taking the full new State Pension from £230.25/week to £241.30/week (£12,547.60/year).
The triple lock ensures pensions keep pace with living costs and wages, protecting pensioners' purchasing power over time.
The full new State Pension for 2026/27 is £241.30 per week, which equals £12,547.60 per year (approximately £1,045.63 per month). This is for people who reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 with 35 qualifying National Insurance years.
- Full new State Pension (2026/27): £241.30/week = £12,547.60/year
- Each qualifying year is worth: £6.89/week = £358.50/year
- Minimum to receive anything: 10 qualifying years
This represents a 4.8% increase from 2025/26's rate of £230.25/week, applied under the triple lock guarantee.
Under the new State Pension system, you receive nothing if you have fewer than 10 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. The 10-year minimum is a hard threshold — even 9 years and 11 months of contributions gives £0 in new State Pension.
If you are close to this threshold, options include:
- Continuing to work and build qualifying years
- Paying voluntary Class 3 NI contributions at £17.75/week per gap year (2026/27 rate) to buy missing years
- Claiming available NI credits (for carers, parents, those on benefits)
Each year you buy adds £6.89/week (£358.50/year) to your pension. Contact the Future Pension Centre or check your NI record at gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record.
Yes. Self-employed people qualify for the UK State Pension through National Insurance contributions. Since 6 April 2022, Class 2 NI contributions (£3.45/week in 2026/27) count as qualifying years for the State Pension, provided your profits exceed the Small Profits Threshold (£6,725 in 2026/27).
Self-employed workers should:
- Check their NI record at gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record
- Ensure Class 2 NI is being recorded correctly through Self Assessment
- Fill any gaps with voluntary Class 3 contributions if profits were below the threshold in certain years
With 35 qualifying years, a self-employed person receives exactly the same full new State Pension of £241.30/week (2026/27) as an employee.
The State Pension age is scheduled to rise from 66 to 67 between May 2026 and March 2028. This affects people born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977.
- Born before 6 April 1960: State Pension age is 66 (already reached)
- Born 6 April 1960 – 5 March 1961: Transitional period, age between 66 and 67
- Born 6 March 1961 – 5 April 1977: State Pension age will be 67
- Born after 5 April 1977: Proposed age of 68 (subject to government review)
Use the official GOV.UK State Pension age calculator to find your exact State Pension date.
Official Sources & References
Data verified against official UK government sources. Last checked August 2026.
Related calculators
Sources Checked — This calculator is checked against official GOV.UK sources and updated regularly with the latest UK tax rates and regulations. Last verified: August 2026.
Last updated: August 2026 | Verified with latest UK rates
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