Key points
- The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in 2026/27: £12,547.60 a year.
- You need 35 qualifying years for the full amount and at least 10 to get anything.
- Each qualifying year adds about £358.50 a year to your State Pension, for life.
- You can build years without paying: earning over £6,708 a year, claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12, or getting credits for caring or some benefits.
Work out your own
Add your qualifying years or your GOV.UK forecast to see your State Pension alongside your workplace pension.
Open the pension calculatorWhat each qualifying year is worth
For people who reached State Pension age from April 2016 with no record before then, the new State Pension is the full rate multiplied by your qualifying years and divided by 35, as set out in the Pensions Act 2014.
| Qualifying years | A week | A year |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| 10 | £68.94 | £3,585.03 |
| 15 | £103.41 | £5,377.54 |
| 20 | £137.89 | £7,170.06 |
| 25 | £172.36 | £8,962.57 |
| 30 | £206.83 | £10,755.09 |
| 35 | £241.30 | £12,547.60 |
How you get a qualifying year
- Working and earning at least £6,708 in a tax year, even though you pay nothing below £12,570.
- National Insurance credits, for example while claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12, caring for someone, or getting some benefits.
- Paying voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill a gap.
Gaps in your record
A year when you didn't work, earned too little or lived abroad can leave a gap. You can usually pay voluntary contributions to fill gaps from the past six tax years. Whether it is worth it depends on whether you would reach 35 years anyway: your forecast shows this.
Check your forecast
Your State Pension forecast on GOV.UK shows how much you could get, when, and how many more years you need. Your National Insurance record shows each year and any gaps. Put your forecast into our pension calculator to see it alongside your workplace pension.
Bottom line
The State Pension is worth checking early. A forecast takes a few minutes on GOV.UK and shows both your likely amount and any years you could still fill.
Tips
- If you have years from before April 2016, your amount is based on your record under the old rules too: your GOV.UK forecast is more accurate than a count of years.
- If you stop work to care for children or someone else, check you are getting National Insurance credits.
- Before paying to fill a gap, check your forecast: some years may not increase your pension.
This guide explains the rules; it is not personal financial advice.