How to use the State Pension calculator
- 1 Enter your qualifying NI years, from your State Pension forecast.
- 2 Enter any gap years you could fill.
- 3 Read your weekly and yearly State Pension.
- 4 See the extra from filling gaps.
Worked example
Someone with 30 qualifying years. The pension is £241.30 × 30 ÷ 35 = £206.83 a week, about £10,755 a year. Each extra qualifying year adds about £6.89 a week, roughly £358 a year for life. Filling five gap years could bring this person close to the full £241.30 a week, often for a few hundred pounds per year bought.
State Pension age and filling gaps
- State Pension age is 66 and is rising to 67 for people born after April 1960, phased in between 2026 and 2028.
- Check your record: get your forecast and NI record free on GOV.UK.
- Fill gaps: voluntary Class 3 contributions can buy missing years, usually back six years. Each year adds about £358 a year for life, so it often pays back within a few years.
- Credits: you may get NI credits for years claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12, caring or unemployment.
The State Pension is taxable income. Plan the rest of your retirement income with the Pension Pot Calculator and the Pension Lump Sum Calculator.
Features
2026/27 full rate
£241.30 a week after a 4.8% triple lock rise.
Qualifying years
35 years for the full amount, at least 10 for any.
Gap filling
Shows the value of voluntary contributions.
When to use it
Retirement planning
Know your State Pension income. Plan private savings with the Pension Pot Calculator.
Gap years
Decide whether to buy missing years. See tax on withdrawals with the Pension Lump Sum Calculator.
Career breaks
See the effect of years out of work. See your contributions with the National Insurance Calculator.
Couples
Estimate each partner's pension. Claiming Child Benefit can give NI credits; see the Child Benefit Calculator.
Related Savings and Investing tasks
Frequently asked questions
How much is the full new State Pension?
£241.30 a week from April 2026, about £12,548 a year.
How many years do I need?
35 qualifying years for the full rate and at least 10 for any new State Pension.
What is a qualifying year?
A year when you paid NI, received NI credits (for example for caring or Child Benefit for a child under 12) or paid voluntary contributions.
Can I fill gaps?
Usually for the last six years by paying voluntary Class 3 contributions, which can be good value.
When can I claim?
State Pension age is 66, rising to 67 between 2026 and 2028.
What is the triple lock?
The State Pension rises each April by the highest of earnings growth, inflation or 2.5%.
Is State Pension taxable?
Yes, but it is paid without tax deducted. Other income may push you into paying tax. From April 2027 the full new State Pension will be slightly above the £12,570 personal allowance, and a new allowance announced in the Budget means people whose only income is the State Pension will not pay tax on it.
How do I check my record?
Get your State Pension forecast on GOV.UK.
What if I paid into the old system?
If you have NI years before April 2016, your starting amount was worked out under both old and new rules, so your forecast may differ.
Can I defer my State Pension?
Yes. Each 9 weeks of deferral adds 1%, about 5.8% a year, paid as extra pension.
Do I get credits for caring?
Yes. Parents claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12 and carers getting Carer's Allowance receive NI credits.
Is the State Pension enough to live on?
For most people it covers only part of retirement costs, so workplace and personal pensions matter.
What about living abroad?
You can claim abroad, but in some countries it is frozen and does not rise each year.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
· Last updated
· How we check our tools
· Report a problem