State Pension Estimator
This is an estimate only. Check your actual forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension. Contracted-out periods may reduce your entitlement.
How Much Is the UK State Pension in 2025/26?
The new State Pension for those who reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 is currently £221.20 per week (£11,502.40 per year) for the 2025/26 tax year. This is the full amount, awarded to those with at least 35 qualifying National Insurance (NI) years.
For those who reached State Pension age before April 2016, the basic State Pension (old system) is £169.50 per week (£8,814 per year) for the 2025/26 tax year, requiring at least 30 qualifying years. Many recipients also receive Additional State Pension (S2P/SERPS) on top, depending on their NI record before 2016.
Triple Lock Guarantee: The State Pension rises each April by the highest of earnings growth, CPI inflation, or 2.5%. For 2025/26, the triple lock delivered an increase of 4.1% (earnings growth), taking the weekly amount from £221.20 to more in 2026/27 once confirmed.
How to Check Your State Pension Forecast Online
The most accurate way to see your forecast is via the official Check Your State Pension tool at gov.uk/check-state-pension. You will need a Government Gateway account (or GOV.UK One Login). The tool shows you:
- Your current State Pension forecast (based on existing NI record)
- The maximum you could receive if you continue working or pay voluntary contributions
- Your NI record year by year, including any gaps
- How many more qualifying years you need for the full pension
If you do not have internet access, you can call the Future Pension Centre on 0800 731 0175 (free from UK landlines and mobiles) for a pension statement.
What Counts as a Qualifying National Insurance Year?
A qualifying year is any tax year in which you paid or were credited with enough National Insurance contributions. There are several ways to build up qualifying years:
- Employment: You automatically pay Class 1 NI if you earn above the Lower Earnings Limit (£6,396/year in 2025/26). Even earning between the Lower Earnings Limit and the Primary Threshold (£12,570) builds up qualifying years without actually paying NI contributions.
- Self-employment: Self-employed people pay Class 4 NI on profits and Class 2 NI (now folded into the system) to build qualifying years.
- NI Credits: Free qualifying years awarded when you cannot work due to unemployment, caring, or illness (see below).
- Voluntary contributions: You can pay Class 3 NI to fill gaps in your record.
NI Credits: Free Qualifying Years
NI credits are awarded automatically in many circumstances and count as full qualifying years without you paying anything. You may receive credits if you are:
- Claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Receiving Universal Credit while looking for work
- Claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12 (these are called Specified Adult Childcare credits)
- In receipt of Carer's Allowance
- Off sick and receiving Statutory Sick Pay
- Jury service
- Approved training schemes
Grandparents and family carers: If you look after a grandchild while their parent works, you can apply for Specified Adult Childcare credits. The child's parent transfers their Child Benefit NI credit to you. This can be extremely valuable for grandparents who take early retirement to help with childcare.
Gaps in Your NI Record: How to Fill Them
If your NI record shows gaps, you may be able to pay voluntary Class 3 NI contributions to fill them. In 2025/26, the cost of one qualifying year via Class 3 contributions is £824.20. Each extra qualifying year adds approximately £6.33 per week (£329.16 per year) to your State Pension.
Excellent Value: Paying £824.20 to gain £329.16/year means the investment pays back in under 2.5 years. Over a 20-year retirement, one filled gap earns you an extra £6,583 — a return of nearly 700%.
Generally, you can only fill gaps from the previous 6 tax years. However, the government extended the deadline to fill historic gaps from 2006/07 onwards until 5 April 2025 (this deadline has now passed). You should now focus on filling the last 6 years of gaps and ensuring your current record is complete.
How Much Can You Fill and When
| Scenario | Cost | Annual Pension Gain | Payback Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fill 1 gap year (Class 3) | £824.20 | £329.16/yr | 2.5 years |
| Fill 3 gap years | £2,472.60 | £987.48/yr | 2.5 years |
| Fill 5 gap years | £4,121.00 | £1,645.80/yr | 2.5 years |
| Reach full 35 years from 25 | Variable | £221.20/wk | Lifelong |
Deferring Your State Pension
If you continue to work past State Pension age or simply do not need the income immediately, you can defer (delay) claiming your State Pension. For every 9 weeks you defer, your weekly State Pension increases by 1%. This equates to approximately 5.8% per year of deferral.
Example: If your State Pension would be £221.20/week but you defer for one year, it rises to approximately £234.00/week (£221.20 x 1.058). The break-even point for deferral is typically around 17 years, so deferral is most beneficial if you are in good health and expect a long retirement.
Contracted Out: Why You May Get Less
If you were a member of a contracted-out occupational pension scheme or a stakeholder pension at any point between 1978 and 2016, you (or your employer) paid lower NI contributions during those periods. In exchange, your employer's scheme was expected to provide equivalent benefits. HMRC records this as a deduction from your State Pension calculation.
This means even if you have 35+ qualifying NI years, you may receive less than the full £221.20/week if you were contracted out for significant periods. The Check Your State Pension tool will show whether contracting-out affects your forecast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the full new State Pension amount in 2025/26?
The full new State Pension is £221.20 per week in 2025/26, which equals £11,502.40 per year. You receive this full amount if you have 35 or more qualifying National Insurance years. You receive nothing if you have fewer than 10 qualifying years. Between 10 and 34 years, you receive a proportional amount (£221.20 divided by 35, multiplied by your qualifying years).
How do I know if I have gaps in my NI record?
The easiest way is to check online at gov.uk/check-state-pension using your Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login account. The tool shows your NI record year by year going back to when you started working. Years with gaps are clearly shown, along with whether they can be filled and how much it would cost to do so.
Is the State Pension taxable?
Yes. The State Pension is taxable income, although no tax is deducted at source (HMRC collects it through your PAYE code if you have other income, or via Self Assessment). In 2025/26, the full new State Pension of £11,502.40 nearly equals the Personal Allowance of £12,570. However, if both a husband and wife receive the full State Pension, only their first £1,067 of any other income each year will be within their Personal Allowance.
Can I get the State Pension while still working?
Yes. There is no requirement to stop working when you reach State Pension age. You simply claim the State Pension (or defer it) while continuing to work. Once you reach State Pension age, you no longer pay National Insurance contributions on your employment income, which gives you a modest pay increase.
What happens to the State Pension when I die?
The State Pension is a personal benefit and stops when you die. However, surviving spouses and civil partners may be able to inherit some or all of their deceased partner's additional State Pension or protected payment (for those in the new State Pension system). Check with the Pension Service for your specific entitlement. There is no inheritance of the basic new State Pension itself.
What is the State Pension age and will it change?
The current State Pension age is 66 for both men and women. It will rise to 67 for those born between 6 April 1961 and 5 April 1977, with the increase phased in between 2026 and 2028. A further rise to 68 is planned for those born after April 1978, though the exact date has been subject to ongoing government review. Some proposals have suggested bringing forward the rise to 68 into the mid-2030s.