What is the State Pension for 2025/26?
The full new State Pension for 2025/26 is £230.25 per week (£998 per month, £11,973 per year). You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions to receive the full amount. You need at least 10 qualifying years to receive any State Pension.
State Pension rates (2025/26)
| Type | Weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Full new State Pension | £230.25 | £11,973 |
| Full basic State Pension (pre-2016) | £176.45 | £9,175.4 |
Qualifying years
Each qualifying year of National Insurance adds approximately £342.09 to your annual State Pension. You build qualifying years by:
- Working and paying National Insurance contributions
- Receiving National Insurance credits (e.g. while claiming certain benefits or caring for a child under 12)
- Paying voluntary Class 3 NI contributions (£17.45/week in 2025/26)
State Pension age
The State Pension age is currently 66 for both men and women. It is scheduled to:
- Rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028
- Rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046
Is the State Pension taxable?
Yes. The State Pension counts as taxable income. However, at £11,973 per year, the full new State Pension alone is below the £12,570 Personal Allowance, so no tax is due on the pension alone. Tax applies only if your total income (pension plus any other earnings) exceeds the Personal Allowance.
Source: Gov.uk — New State Pension. Last updated: April 2025.