Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the UK State Pension.
The amount
How much is the State Pension?
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in 2026/27, which is £12,547.60 a year before tax. You need 35 qualifying years for that rate. Each year up to 35 is worth about £6.89 a week.
What is the difference between the new and basic State Pension?
The new State Pension applies if you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016. The basic State Pension applies if you reached it before that date. The full basic rate in 2026/27 is £184.90 a week, and it used 30 qualifying years for the full rate.
Does the State Pension go up each year?
From April 2026 the full new rate rose by 4.8%, from £230.25 a week in 2025/26 to £241.30 a week. Future increases depend on the rules in force that year.
When you can claim
When can I claim?
Your State Pension age depends on your date of birth. People born from 6 October 1954 to 5 April 1960 reach it at 66. It then rises to 67, and under current law to 68 for people born from 6 April 1978. You can usually claim from four months before that date. It is not paid automatically.
Is State Pension age the same for men and women?
Yes, for people born from 6 October 1954. The timetable does not ask for gender.
What if I keep working?
Working past State Pension age does not delay the pension unless you choose to defer it. You can claim while you are still working.
Qualifying years
How many years do I need?
For the new State Pension you need at least 10 qualifying years before anything is payable, and 35 for the full rate. Years above 35 do not increase this estimate.
Can I buy missing years?
Class 3 voluntary National Insurance costs £18.40 a week in 2026/27, or £956.80 for a year. A year can only be paid if it is still within the deadline and you do not already have a credit. This site cannot tell you whether a gap is worth buying.
What if I was contracted out?
A contracted-out deduction is personal to your National Insurance record. If you were contracted out before April 2016, the official forecast is often lower than a simple 35-year estimate. This calculator does not apply that deduction.
Using this calculator
Do I need to log in?
No. The estimate uses the date of birth and qualifying years you type in, and it stays in your browser. The official State Pension forecast needs a Government Gateway login and reads your National Insurance record.
Is this the same as the official forecast?
No. This is a general estimate from published rules. The forecast is the record of your own contributions, credits and any contracted-out deduction. Check that figure before you pay voluntary contributions, defer, or rely on an amount for retirement income.
Still have questions?
Use the calculator for an instant estimate, or email hello@calculatemystatepension.co.uk.