State Pension Amount for 2026/27
The State Pension is a regular payment from the government that you receive when you reach State Pension age. For the 2026/27 tax year, the full new State Pension is £230.25 per week (£11,973 per year). How much you actually receive depends on your National Insurance record.
State Pension Rates 2026/27
| Type | Weekly Rate | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Full new State Pension | £230.25 | £11,973 |
| Full basic State Pension | £176.45 | £9,175 |
| Pension Credit (single, guarantee) | £218.15 | £11,344 |
How Your Amount Is Calculated
New State Pension
The new State Pension is calculated based on your National Insurance record:
- 35 qualifying years: Full amount of £230.25 per week
- 10-34 qualifying years: Proportional amount (e.g., 20 years = 20/35 of the full rate = £131.57/week)
- Under 10 qualifying years: No State Pension entitlement
A qualifying year is one where you paid or were credited with enough National Insurance contributions. You receive NI credits for periods of unemployment, caring responsibilities, or receiving certain benefits.
Basic State Pension (Pre-2016 Retirees)
For those on the basic State Pension, the full rate is £176.45 per week. You may also receive additional State Pension (from SERPS or the State Second Pension) on top, depending on your earnings and NI record between 1978 and 2016.
Is the State Pension Enough to Retire On?
The full new State Pension of £11,973 per year falls below the minimum retirement living standard of £14,400 per year suggested by the PLSA. Here is how the State Pension compares to different retirement living standards:
| Living Standard | Annual Income Needed (Single) | Shortfall from State Pension |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | £14,400 | £2,427 |
| Moderate | £31,300 | £19,327 |
| Comfortable | £43,100 | £31,127 |
How to Check Your State Pension
You can check your State Pension forecast for free at gov.uk. The forecast shows:
- Your estimated weekly State Pension amount
- The earliest date you can claim
- How many qualifying years you have
- Whether you can improve your amount by paying voluntary contributions
Increasing Your State Pension
If your forecast shows less than the full amount, you may be able to increase it:
- Continue working: Each additional qualifying year adds approximately £6.58 per week
- Voluntary NI contributions: Pay Class 3 contributions to fill gaps in your record
- Claim NI credits: Ensure you claim credits for caring, unemployment, or other qualifying activities
- Defer your State Pension: Deferring increases your pension by approximately 1% for every 9 weeks deferred (about 5.8% per year)
State Pension and Tax
The State Pension is taxable income. With the Personal Allowance at £12,570 and the full State Pension at £11,973, there is only £597 of Personal Allowance remaining. Any private pension income, part-time earnings, or savings interest will likely be taxed.