What is the State Pension for 2026/27?
The full new State Pension for 2026/27 is £241.30 per week (£1,046 per month, £12,547.6 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 (2026/27)
| Type | Weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Full new State Pension | £241.30 | £12,547.6 |
| Full basic State Pension (pre-2016) | £184.90 | £9,614.8 |
Qualifying years
Each qualifying year of National Insurance adds approximately £358.50 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 (£18.40/week in 2026/27)
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 £12,547.6 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. Many pensioners who also receive a workplace pension or have other income will pay some tax on their combined earnings. HMRC adjusts your tax code to collect any tax due through your workplace or private pension, so you normally do not need to complete a Self Assessment tax return.
The triple lock
The State Pension is protected by the triple lock, which means it increases each April by the highest of average earnings growth, CPI inflation, or 2.5%. For 2026/27, the full new and basic State Pensions increased by 4.8%, in line with average earnings growth. The full new State Pension rose from £230.25 to £241.30 per week.
Checking your State Pension forecast
You can check your State Pension forecast online through the government's Check Your State Pension service at gov.uk. This shows you how much State Pension you could get, when you can get it, and whether you can increase it by paying voluntary National Insurance contributions. If you have gaps in your NI record, you may be able to fill them by paying Class 3 voluntary contributions at £18.40 per week for 2026/27. Filling gaps can be especially cost-effective if you only need a few more years to reach the full 35-year qualifying period.
Source: Gov.uk — New State Pension. Last updated: April 2026.