UK State Pension Rates 2025/26
The full new state pension increased by 4.1% under the triple lock to £230.25 per week from April 2025. You need exactly 35 qualifying National Insurance years for the full amount — each year adds £6.58/week to your pension.
| NI Qualifying Years | Weekly Pension | Monthly Pension | Annual Pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 years (minimum) | £65.79 | £285.09 | £3,421 |
| 20 years | £131.57 | £570.18 | £6,842 |
| 25 years | £164.46 | £712.73 | £8,552 |
| 30 years | £197.36 | £855.27 | £10,263 |
| 35 years (full) | £230.25 | £997.75 | £11,973 |
| Below 10 years | £0 | £0 | £0 |
State Pension Age by Birth Year
The state pension age depends entirely on when you were born. It is currently 66 and rising to 67 (2026–2028) and 68 (proposed 2044–2046).
| Date of Birth | State Pension Age | When You Can Claim |
|---|---|---|
| Before 6 April 1960 | 66 | Already reached or soon |
| 6 April 1960 – 5 April 1977 | 67 | From 2026 onwards (phased) |
| From 6 April 1977 | 68* | Proposed — not yet confirmed in law |
*The increase to 68 has been recommended but not yet enacted. Check gov.uk for the latest confirmed dates.
Calculator by Year of Birth
Find the specific state pension age and retirement date for your birth year:
More State Pension Calculators & Guides
Deeper tools for specific situations — NI gaps, deferral, self-employed, and more.
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NI Gaps Calculator
Is it worth filling your NI gaps? ROI, cost, break-even in 2.7 years.
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State Pension Forecast
Project your NI years to retirement. See how employment status affects your forecast.
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Voluntary Contributions
Class 3 NI vs ISA vs pension — ROI comparison and priority order.
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Deferral Calculator
Should you defer past SPA? +5.78%/year, 17-year break-even — calculate yours.
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Self-Employed Pension
Class 2 NI: £3.50/wk — far cheaper than Class 3. Check your forecast.
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Divorced Women
Use ex-spouse's NI record? Child benefit credits, gap fill options explained.
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WASPI Women
Born 1950–1960? SPA rose 60→66. Check impact, PHSO findings & your options.
🐝 Consolidate Your Pensions
Have multiple workplace pensions from different jobs? PensionBee combines them into one easy-to-manage plan.
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👔 Get Personalised Advice
State pension is just one part of your retirement income. An IFA can optimise your total pension strategy.
- Should you defer your state pension?
- Is it worth buying missing NI years?
- How much private pension do you need?
- Tax-efficient drawdown strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
The full new UK state pension for 2025/26 is £230.25 per week (£11,973 per year). You need 35 qualifying National Insurance years for the full amount. With fewer qualifying years (minimum 10), the amount is proportionally reduced: each NI year adds £6.58/week.
Currently 66 for both men and women. It rises to 67 between 2026 and 2028 for those born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977. A further rise to 68 has been proposed for those born from 6 April 1977 onwards, but this has not yet been confirmed in law. Use our state pension age calculator above to get your personal retirement date.
You need 35 qualifying National Insurance years for the full new state pension of £230.25/week. You need at least 10 qualifying years to receive anything at all. Each qualifying year is worth £6.58/week (£342/year). If you have gaps, you may be able to buy voluntary Class 3 contributions — typically paying off within 2–3 years of retirement.
Yes. Voluntary Class 3 NI contributions cost approximately £923 per missing year (2025/26 rate). Each year bought adds £342/year to your pension for life — the break-even point is around 2.5 years of retirement. This is often one of the most tax-efficient investments available to people approaching retirement. Check gov.uk to see which years you can fill.
The triple lock guarantees the state pension rises each April by the highest of: CPI inflation, average earnings growth, or 2.5%. This protects pensioners' purchasing power over time. The 2025/26 increase of 4.1% was based on earnings growth, raising the full pension from £221.20 to £230.25 per week.
For every 9 weeks you defer past your state pension age, your pension increases by 1% (approximately 5.8% per year). Deferring 1 year on the full pension of £230.25/week adds about £13.35/week for life. This can be beneficial if you are still working and do not need the income immediately. There is no maximum deferral period.
Visit gov.uk/check-state-pension and log in with your Government Gateway credentials. This gives your NI record year by year, your current forecast, and how much you could get if you continue working to state pension age. Our British state pension calculator provides an estimate — the gov.uk forecast is personalised and always the most accurate.
Yes. The state pension counts as taxable income, though HMRC does not deduct tax from it automatically. If your total income (state pension + other pensions + earnings) exceeds the personal allowance (£12,570 for 2025/26), you will pay income tax on the excess — usually collected via PAYE on a private pension or via a self-assessment return.