The new State Pension in 2026/27: how much you could get and when
Published · 4 min read · Figures checked . UK rules and rates change, so check the official sources below before you act.
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week from April 2026. Many people get less than the full amount, because it depends on your National Insurance record. This guide explains in plain words how much you could get, how many years you need and when it starts.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for people in the UK who reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 and are in the "new State Pension". That means men born on or after 6 April 1951 and women born on or after 6 April 1953. It is general information, not advice for your own situation.
How much is it?
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week. That is about £12,548 a year. It went up by 4.8% in April 2026, from £230.25 a week.
Why 4.8%? The State Pension rises every April under a rule called the "triple lock". Each year it goes up by the highest of three things: average wage growth, price rises (inflation), or 2.5%. This year wage growth was the highest, at 4.8%.
Why you might get less than the full amount
Your pension depends on your National Insurance (NI) record. Each year in which you worked and paid NI, or got NI credits, counts as a "qualifying year". You can get credits in some situations, for example if you were unemployed, ill, a parent or a carer. You can also pay voluntary National Insurance contributions.
- You need at least 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension.
- You need 35 qualifying years to get the full amount, if your record starts after April 2016.
- If you were "contracted out" of the State Pension before 2016 (often through a workplace pension), the number of years you need can be different. Some people with older records need more than 35.
Because of this, two people the same age can get quite different amounts. The only way to know yours is to check.
How to find out what you will get
You can get a free State Pension forecast on GOV.UK. It shows how much you are on track to get, when you can start claiming, and whether you have gaps in your record. If there are gaps, you may be able to fill them by paying voluntary National Insurance contributions. Check the rules for your own situation before paying anything.
When can you claim it?
You can claim when you reach State Pension age. For many people, that age is rising from 66 to 67.
- People born on or after 6 April 1960 are affected by the rise.
- If you were born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961, your age goes up a month at a time, so it will be somewhere between 66 and 67.
- If you were born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977, your State Pension age is 67.
A further rise to 68 is currently planned for between 2044 and 2046. It is under review, so it could change. Any change needs ten years' notice and the approval of Parliament. The GOV.UK State Pension age checker gives you your exact date.
Will you pay tax on it?
The State Pension counts as income, so it can be taxed. The standard tax-free Personal Allowance is £12,570 a year. The full new State Pension of about £12,548 is just under that. If you also have other income, such as a workplace pension or savings interest, your total may go over the allowance and some tax may be due. GOV.UK's tax guidance says the State Pension is paid without tax taken off. If you have other income, HMRC can change your tax code so the tax is collected from that other income.
Free help
MoneyHelper, a free service backed by the government, gives impartial guidance on pensions and retirement. Pension Wise, part of MoneyHelper, offers free guidance on workplace and personal pensions.
Check before you act
Rates and rules change, usually each April. Before you rely on any figure, confirm it on the official GOV.UK pages linked below.
Sources
For information only. See our disclaimer and editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
