How much is the State Pension and when can I get it?

The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in 2026/27, and the amount you get depends on your National Insurance record. State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028.

Full new State Pension: £241.30 a week; For people who reach State Pension age on or after 06/04/2016. The amount you get depends on your National Insurance record.; GOV.UK: The new State Pension: what you’ll get
National Insurance qualifying years: 10 for any; 35 for the full rate; You need 35 years for the full new State Pension if your record started after April 2016; people who were contracted out usually need more.; GOV.UK: The new State Pension: what you’ll get
State Pension age now: 66; For people born from 06/10/1954 to 05/04/1960. People born from 06/04/1960 to 05/03/1961 reach it at 66 plus 1 to 11 months.; legislation.gov.uk: Pensions Act 1995, Schedule 4 (pensionable age)
State Pension age rising to: 67; For people born from 06/03/1961 to 05/04/1977; the rise is phased in between May 2026 and March 2028. A further rise to 68 is legislated for people born on or after 06/04/1978.; legislation.gov.uk: Pensions Act 2014, section 26 (increase in pensionable age to 67)

Tax year 2026/27. Checked 22/09/2026.

What it is

The State Pension is a regular payment from the government once you reach State Pension age. The new State Pension applies to men born on or after 06/04/1951 and women born on or after 06/04/1953. People born earlier get the basic State Pension under the old rules.

How much

The full rate of the new State Pension is £241.30 a week in 2026/27. You may get more or less, depending on your National Insurance record, whether you were “contracted out” before 2016 (when you paid less into the State Pension and more into a workplace or personal pension), and whether you paid into the Additional State Pension before 2016.

Each year the new State Pension rises by the highest of average earnings growth, price inflation measured by the Consumer Prices Index, or 2.5%.

National Insurance qualifying years

A qualifying year is a year in which you paid National Insurance, received National Insurance credits (for example when unemployed, ill, a parent or a carer), or paid voluntary contributions.

You need at least 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension.
If your National Insurance record started after April 2016, you need 35 qualifying years for the full rate.
If you were contracted out before 2016, you usually need more than 35 years for the full rate.
You can usually pay voluntary contributions to fill gaps from the past six years.

State Pension age

State Pension age is set by law and depends on your date of birth:

Born 06/10/1954 to 05/04/1960: 66.
Born 06/04/1960 to 05/03/1961: between 66 and 1 month and 66 and 11 months, depending on your birth month. The first of these people reached State Pension age in May 2026.
Born 06/03/1961 to 05/04/1977: 67. The move to 67 is completed in March 2028.
Born 06/04/1977 to 05/04/1978: a date between May 2044 and March 2046.
Born on or after 06/04/1978: 68.

Future changes

The law requires regular reviews of State Pension age. A third review was launched in July 2025 and has not concluded, so the ages above are those currently in legislation. GOV.UK has a tool to check your own State Pension age.

Claiming and deferring

The State Pension is not paid automatically; you have to claim it. It is usually paid every four weeks.

You can put off (defer) claiming it. If you defer for at least nine weeks, it increases by just under 5.8% for every year you defer. Deferring can affect some benefits.

The State Pension counts as taxable income. Any tax due on it is usually collected by a private pension provider, or by a Simple Assessment bill from HMRC if the State Pension is your only income. Whether tax is due depends on your total income.

Checking your forecast

GOV.UK’s State Pension forecast service shows how much you could get, when, and your National Insurance record, including any gaps. People on a low income over State Pension age may be able to get Pension Credit.

Questions people ask

›How much is the full new State Pension in 2026/27?

£241.30 a week. The amount you personally get depends on your National Insurance record.

›How many years of National Insurance do I need?

At least 10 qualifying years for any new State Pension, and usually 35 for the full amount if your record started after April 2016.

›What is my State Pension age?

It depends on your date of birth: 66 for people born 06/10/1954 to 05/04/1960, rising in monthly steps to 67 for people born from 06/03/1961. GOV.UK’s “Check your State Pension age” tool gives the exact date.

›Is the State Pension paid automatically?

No. You have to claim it, usually after receiving an invitation letter. You can claim online, by phone or by post.

›Is the State Pension taxed?

Yes, it is taxable income. Whether you owe tax depends on your total income, including any other pensions and earnings. Tax due is usually collected through a private pension, or by a Simple Assessment bill from HMRC if the State Pension is your only income.

›How much is the State Pension a month or a year?

The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in 2026/27, which is £12,547.60 over 52 weeks. It is usually paid every 4 weeks, so a full-rate payment is £965.20. Many people get more or less than the full rate, depending on their National Insurance record; a State Pension forecast on GOV.UK shows your own figure.

Related guides

Sources

This is information, not advice. Tax treatment depends on your circumstances and can change. For free, impartial guidance, MoneyHelper (backed by the government) can help; for a personal recommendation, speak to a regulated financial adviser.