Key facts
- Full new State Pension: £241.30 a week (£12,547.60 a year) for 2026/27
- State Pension age is 66, rising to 67 in phases between 6 April 2026 and 5 April 2028
- 35 qualifying years of National Insurance for the full amount; at least 10 to receive anything
- The triple lock raises the State Pension each April by the highest of earnings growth, CPI inflation, or 2.5%
Workplace and personal pensions sit alongside the State Pension. Use our pension calculator to model your total retirement income, and see how pension auto enrolment builds workplace savings on top of what the government pays.
How much is the State Pension in 2026/27
The full new State Pension for 2026/27 is £241.30 a week, which is £12,547.60 a year. That is the maximum if you have enough qualifying years on your National Insurance record.
The new State Pension applies to men born on or after 6 April 1951 and women born on or after 6 April 1953. If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, you are on the old basic State Pension system instead. The full basic State Pension for 2026/27 is £184.90 a week.
State Pension age
State Pension age is currently 66. The rise to 67 is being phased in between 6 April 2026 and 5 April 2028, depending on your date of birth. A further rise to 68 is legislated for later, though the timetable can change with new legislation.
Your State Pension age is personal: check it on GOV.UK State Pension age. You cannot usually claim the State Pension before that age, though you can defer taking it for a higher weekly amount later.
Qualifying years and your National Insurance record
You need at least 10 qualifying years to receive any new State Pension, and usually 35 qualifying years for the full amount. The pension builds roughly in proportion: fewer years means a lower weekly payment, not an all-or-nothing cut-off at 35.
A qualifying year usually comes from paying National Insurance through employment or self-employment, or from National Insurance credits. Credits can apply if you are caring for someone, claiming certain benefits, or in other situations where you cannot pay NI yourself. If you have gaps, you may be able to fill them with voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions where it is worthwhile for your forecast.
Example: pro rata new State Pension (2026/27)
10 qualifying years: about £3,585 a year
20 qualifying years: about £7,170 a year
30 qualifying years: about £10,755 a year
35 qualifying years: £12,547.60 a year (full amount)
The triple lock and how the amount rises
The triple lock is the rule that raises the State Pension each April by the highest of three measures: average earnings growth, CPI inflation, or 2.5 percent. That is why the full weekly amount has moved from £221.20 in 2024/25 and £230.25 in 2025/26 to £241.30 in 2026/27.
The lock applies to the basic State Pension and the new State Pension. It does not guarantee that your personal payment rises by the same amount if your NI record still has gaps.
Is the State Pension taxable
The State Pension counts as taxable income. It is paid without tax deducted at source, so you receive the gross weekly amount. It uses part of your Personal Allowance of £12,570 for 2026/27. If your State Pension plus other income stays within that allowance, you may pay no income tax. If other income pushes you above it, that income is taxed in the usual way.
Pension income from a workplace or personal pot is taxed separately. See our pension tax relief guide for how relief at source, net pay, and salary sacrifice reduce the cost of paying in. See our tax free lump sum guide for how the 25% tax free cash rules work when you take money out.
How to check your forecast and boost it
Use the Check your State Pension forecast service on GOV.UK. It shows your likely weekly amount, your State Pension age, and any gaps in your National Insurance record.
If you have missing years, voluntary Class 3 contributions may increase your pension. Whether that is good value depends on how many years you need, how long you expect to live, and the cost of buying back each year. HMRC usually allows you to fill gaps going back six tax years, with occasional extensions announced in the Budget.
Track how the State Pension fits your overall finances with our net worth calculator, which can include pension pots alongside property and savings.
Pension Calculator
Project your workplace and personal pension pot at retirement alongside the State Pension.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week, which is £12,547.60 a year, for 2026/27.
It is currently 66. The rise to 67 is being phased in between 6 April 2026 and 5 April 2028, with a later rise to 68 legislated.
You usually need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension and at least 10 qualifying years to receive anything.
Yes. It is taxable income paid without tax taken off, and it uses part of your £12,570 Personal Allowance, so other income may be taxed.
It is the older system for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. The full basic State Pension is £184.90 a week for 2026/27.
Use the Check your State Pension forecast service on GOV.UK, which shows your likely amount and any gaps in your record.
You may be able to fill gaps with voluntary National Insurance contributions, or build more qualifying years, where it is worthwhile for your situation.
It is the rule that raises the State Pension each April by the highest of earnings growth, CPI inflation, or 2.5 percent.
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James Hartley is a CIMA qualified financial analyst and Founder and Lead Financial Analyst at WhatsUK, with 8+ years in UK tax, payroll, and compliance. He builds every calculator on WhatsUK and authors all editorial content, ensuring every figure is verified against official HMRC sources before publication.
Sources & Official References
- GOV.UK new State Pension- Full new State Pension £241.30/week for 2026/27
- GOV.UK State Pension age- State Pension age 66, rising to 67 from April 2026
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Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates based on standard HMRC rates for 2026/27. Results may vary based on individual circumstances. This is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified accountant or CIMA-qualified financial adviser for personal tax matters.