Forecast your UK State Pension and the cost to top up missing years. Calculator uses 2026/27 rates and shows your gap from the full new State Pension.
8 min readUpdated April 2026
The State Pension is the foundation of most UK retirement plans. The full new State Pension in 2026/27 pays £230.25 per week (£11,973 per year) — provided you have 35 qualifying years of National Insurance.
The calculator below forecasts your State Pension based on your current NI years and the years you have left to State Pension age. It also estimates the cost of voluntary Class 3 contributions to fill any gaps.
State Pension Forecast Calculator (2026/27)
Forecast your State Pension and top-up cost.
Your details
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Your forecast
Annual State Pension
£0
£0/week
Top-up cost
£0
to buy 0 yrs of NI
Always verify with your official forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension before paying voluntary contributions. Class 3 cost approximate (£17.45/week for 2026/27).
Class 3 voluntary NI contributions
If you have gaps in your NI record, you can usually pay voluntary Class 3 contributions to fill them — typically for the past 6 years. The 2026/27 cost is approximately £17.45 per week, or £907 for a full year.
Each top-up year buys roughly £342/year (1/35 of full new State Pension) for life. The break-even is 2-3 years, making this one of the highest-return investments most people can make.
Check first: Always check your NI record at gov.uk/check-state-pension before paying. Some gaps may already be filled by Child Benefit credits, Universal Credit, or carer's credit.
State Pension age
State Pension age is 66 in 2026, rising to 67 between 2026 and 2028, then 68 from the late 2030s onwards. Your exact date depends on your birth date.
Frequently Asked Questions
£230.25 per week, or £11,973 per year, for those reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 with 35 qualifying NI years.
Use this calculator for a quick estimate. For an official forecast, get your free State Pension forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension — it uses your full NI record.
Class 3 voluntary NI contributions cost approximately £17.45 per week (£907 for a full year). Each year topped up adds roughly £342/year of State Pension for life.
Almost always yes. The break-even is 2-3 years and you typically live 15+ years past State Pension age, giving a return of 5-8 times your investment. One of the best deals in UK personal finance.
Yes, free at gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record. You'll see each tax year, whether it's full, and how much it would cost to top up.
Deferring boosts your State Pension by 1% for every 9 weeks deferred (around 5.8% per year). Whether it's worth it depends on your health, tax situation, and other income.
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