State Pension 2026/27: Rates, Qualifying Years and Your Forecast
Reviewed against the official guidance linked in this article. Rates and eligibility can change. Check the linked official sources for your circumstances. See our editorial policy.
Check the 2026/27 State Pension rates and understand why your forecast matters more than a simple 35-year rule.
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in 2026/27. That is £12,547.60 over an illustrative 52 weeks. Your own entitlement depends on your National Insurance record and any transitional rules.
New and basic State Pension rates
| Pension | Full weekly rate in 2026/27 | Illustration over 52 weeks |
|---|---|---|
| New State Pension | £241.30 | £12,547.60 |
| Basic State Pension | £184.90 | £9,614.80 |
The new system normally applies to men born on or after 6 April 1951 and women born on or after 6 April 1953. Earlier birth dates fall under the old system, which can include Additional State Pension beyond the basic amount.
These are full rates, not a guarantee for every claimant. Actual entitlement, payment dates and periods crossing an April rate change can differ. Sources: DWP's 2026/27 rates and new State Pension guidance.
Why 35 years is not a rule for everyone
If your National Insurance record began after April 2016, you normally need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension and at least 10 to receive any. Overseas insurance periods and certain other circumstances can affect eligibility.
If you built up a record before April 2016, transitional calculations apply. Contracting out and entitlements under the old system can mean that 35 years do not produce the full rate, or that your payment can exceed it. Do not use a simple years-divided-by-35 table as your personal forecast.
A qualifying year can come from contributions, contributions treated as paid or eligible credits. Check how your National Insurance record affects the amount.
When can you claim?
State Pension age is moving from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028. Your exact date depends on your birth date. Use the official State Pension age checker, particularly if you are close to retirement. You must claim the pension; it is not paid automatically simply because you reach that age.
Should you fill a gap in your record?
Start with your State Pension forecast and National Insurance record. Some gaps can be covered by credits. Paying voluntarily does not always increase your pension, so check the effect before paying.
The 2026/27 voluntary Class 3 rate is £18.40 a week, equivalent to £956.80 for 52 weeks. The amount quoted for a particular missing year can differ. You can usually fill gaps for the previous six tax years, subject to eligibility and deadlines. The general extension allowing much older gaps to be filled ended in April 2025.
See voluntary contribution rates and the rules on filling gaps. Check with the relevant pension service if you are unsure whether a payment will improve your entitlement.
Tax and working after pension age
State Pension is taxable income, although tax is not deducted from the pension payment itself. A full 52 weeks of the new rate is just below the standard £12,570 Personal Allowance in 2026/27. Other taxable income can create a tax bill. HMRC may collect tax through another pension or employment, or another payment arrangement.
Employees normally stop paying employee National Insurance at State Pension age, but Income Tax can still apply. Self-employed contributions have different timing rules. Check tax and National Insurance after State Pension age.
Deferring or claiming while abroad
For people reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, delaying the claim can increase regular payments by 1% for every nine weeks deferred. You give up payments during the delay, so a higher later payment does not automatically make deferral better for everyone. Tax, benefits and the length of time you receive it matter. Check the official deferral options, including the alternative of claiming arrears.
If you retire abroad, yearly increases depend on where you live. Some countries with a social security agreement still do not qualify for increases, including Canada and New Zealand. Check the country rules before planning around future uprating.
Our salary calculator estimates employment deductions. It does not calculate your State Pension entitlement, forecast investment growth or decide whether buying a missing year is worthwhile.