The UK State Pension, explained

The short answer: In 2026/27 the full new State Pension is £241.30 a week, about £12,548 a year. You need 10 qualifying years of National Insurance to get any, and usually 35 for the full amount. State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and you have to claim it.

What is the State Pension and who gets it?

The State Pension is a regular payment from the government once you reach State Pension age. How much you get depends on your National Insurance (NI) record, not on your earnings or savings.

You'll get the new State Pension if you're a man born on or after 6 April 1951, or a woman born on or after 6 April 1953. If you were born before that, you're on the older basic State Pension, which has different rules.

It's paid on top of any workplace or personal pension you have. Think of it as the base layer, not the whole outfit. We explain how the three main types fit together in our guide to workplace, personal and State Pensions.

Capital at risk. The value of your pension can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you pay in.

How much is the full new State Pension in 2026/27?

The full rate is £241.30 a week in the 2026/27 tax year. Over 52 weeks, that's about £12,548. It's paid every 4 weeks into your bank account.

You won't get the full amount if you have fewer qualifying years. According to MoneyHelper, 10 years gets you about £68.90 a week, and each extra year adds up to £6.89 a week (about £358 a year).

Assumes your NI record started after April 2016 and you weren't contracted out. The 20 and 30 year figures are £241.30 divided by 35, times the number of years, so treat them as rough guides.

Some people get more than £241.30. If you paid into the Additional State Pension before 2016, you may get a protected payment on top.

How many years of National Insurance do I need for a full State Pension?

You need 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension. If your record started after April 2016, you need 35 qualifying years for the full rate. If you were contracted out before 2016, you'll usually need more than 35.

The years don't have to be in a row. A year counts if you were:

• Employed and earning over £242 a week, or between £129 and £242 a week, where you're treated as having paid. The £129 is the lower earnings limit, or £6,708 a year.

• Self-employed with profits of £7,105 or more. Your Class 2 contributions are treated as paid, so you don't pay them. Our guide to self-employed National Insurance and your State Pension goes through Class 2 and Class 4 in more detail.

• Getting NI credits, for example if you're a parent or carer, ill or unemployed, or on Universal Credit.

• Paying voluntary contributions to fill a gap.

Parents, this one's for you. If you're registered for Child Benefit for a child under 12, you get Class 3 credits automatically, even if you don't receive the money. That's why it can be worth registering even if you earn over £60,000.

When can I get my State Pension, and is the age going up?

Right now, State Pension age is 66. Under current law it's rising from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028, then to 68 between April 2044 and April 2046.

The rise to 67 is phased by birth date. For example, someone born on 31 July 1960 reaches State Pension age at 66 years and 4 months, on 30 November 2026. Anyone born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977 gets it at 67.

The rise to 68 is under review. The government launched its third State Pension age review in July 2025, looking at the latest life expectancy data. The government has said it's committed to giving 10 years' notice of any change.

The easiest way to see your own date is to check your State Pension forecast on GOV.UK. It also shows how much you're on track to get.

How much will the State Pension go up each year?

Every April, the new State Pension rises by the highest of earnings growth, CPI inflation or 2.5%. This is the triple lock, introduced in 2011.

That's changing, but not yet. On 29 September 2026 the government said the triple lock will stay until April 2030. After that, the State Pension would rise by at least inflation or 2.5% a year, with a link to keep pace with earnings over time. The government says nobody's pension will ever go down, and it plans to pass the law during this Parliament.

The DWP's own analysis confirms the triple lock applies for the rest of this Parliament. Our article on how the triple lock changes could affect you covers what's confirmed and what's still a proposal.

What about April 2027? It isn't confirmed yet. AJ Bell expects a 3.9% rise, based on wage growth, which would take the full rate to about £250.70 a week. AJ Bell points out that this would take it above the £12,570 Personal Allowance for the first time, which matters for tax if the State Pension is your only income. That's an estimate until the government confirms the rise.

Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future.

Can I top up my State Pension if I've got gaps in my record?

Often, yes. You can pay voluntary National Insurance to fill gaps from the past 6 tax years. For 2026/27 the rates are:

• Class 2: £3.65 a week, if you're self-employed with profits under £7,105.

• Class 3: £18.40 a week, or £956.80 for a full year.

The deadline is 5 April each year. For example, you have until 5 April 2032 to fill a gap from 2025/26.

Before you pay, check two things. First, see if you can get free NI credits instead. Second, check your forecast, because voluntary contributions don't always increase your State Pension, for example if you were contracted out. They usually can't be refunded either.

Example: buying one missing year (made-up numbers)

Sam is 52, employed, and has a gap in 2025/26 after a year out of work. Her forecast shows she'll fall short of the full amount without it.

1. Filling the year with Class 3 costs £923 at the 2025/26 rate. Gaps from the last 2 tax years are charged at that year's original rate.

2. One extra year adds up to £6.89 a week, about £358 a year.

3. So she'd get her money back in roughly 2 and a half years of State Pension, before any tax or yearly rises.

Everyone's situation is different, so we can't say if it's right for you. The Future Pension Centre can check whether paying would help.

Does having a private pension or savings reduce my State Pension?

No. Your new State Pension is based on your own National Insurance record, not on your savings or other pensions. A workplace pension, a SIPP or money in the bank won't cut it.

There's no joint State Pension for couples, either. Each of you builds your own record. In a few cases you can inherit an extra amount from a spouse or civil partner, mostly linked to rules from before April 2016.

Savings and income do matter for Pension Credit, which gives extra money to people over State Pension age on a low income. It's means-tested, but you can still get it if you have some savings or own your home.

Is the State Pension enough to live on?

Probably not on its own, even at the full rate. The PLSA's Retirement Living Standards put a minimum lifestyle at £13,900 a year for one person. That assumes you own your home outright. The full State Pension is about £12,548.

It's also taxable income. You usually pay no tax if your total income is under your Personal Allowance, which is £12,570. If the State Pension is your only income and you go over, HMRC sends you a Simple Assessment bill.

If you want more than the State Pension in retirement, a workplace or personal pension is the usual way to add to it. If your income goes up and down, our flexible pension calculator shows how a pot could grow when what you pay in changes.

How do I claim my State Pension?

You won't get it automatically. You have to claim, in these steps:

1. You'll get a letter about your State Pension with an invitation code for claiming online.

2. No letter and within 3 months of your State Pension age? You can request a code.

3. Claim online with the code, or phone the Pension Service if you're within 4 months of your State Pension age. You can also ask for a paper form.

4. Your first payment arrives no later than 5 weeks after the date you choose, then every 4 weeks.

You can claim and keep working. You can also put off (defer) claiming. Your payments go up by just under 5.8% for every year you defer, as long as you defer for at least 9 weeks.

What can I check now?

No need to do it all today, but these checks take about as long as a cup of tea:

1. Check your State Pension forecast to see your date and amount.

2. Look for gaps in your NI record, and whether credits could fill them.

3. If you're a parent, make sure you're registered for Child Benefit for any child under 12.

4. If you have gaps, look at whether voluntary contributions would help before paying.

5. Look at what you have in workplace or personal pensions on top.

If you'd like free, impartial help, MoneyHelper's pension specialists are on 0800 011 3797.

Chest, who publish this guide, is building a pension app that fits around everyday life. According to joinchest.com, it lets you:

• earn cashback from 160+ brands into a Chest SIPP

• save automatically with smart saving rules, like round-ups

• find and combine old pots from previous jobs

• see where you stand with the Chest Score

• start your own pension if you're self-employed

Still got questions?

Do couples get a joint State Pension? No. Each of you gets a State Pension based on your own NI record. One partner's years don't top up the other's.

Can I get a State Pension if I've never worked? You may still build qualifying years through NI credits, for example from Child Benefit for a child under 12, caring for someone or Universal Credit. You need 10 qualifying years to get any.

Can I retire at 62 and get my State Pension? You can stop work whenever you like, but the State Pension only starts at State Pension age. Check your forecast for your date.

Is the State Pension taxed? Yes, it counts as taxable income. If you also get a private pension, your provider usually takes off any tax you owe on your State Pension too.

Can I keep working after State Pension age? Yes. You can claim and keep working, and you'll stop paying National Insurance once you reach State Pension age.

How do I check my National Insurance record? Use the GOV.UK forecast service. You'll need to sign in, and you may need to prove your identity with photo ID.