# The State Pension and your National Insurance record URL: https://computenow.co.uk/guides/state-pension-and-your-ni-record/ > How much new State Pension each qualifying year gives you: £241.30 a week with 35 years, nothing under 10, and filling gaps. This calculator shows a worked example below. To use your own figures, add them to the URL as query parameters (listed in https://computenow.co.uk/llms.txt), for example https://computenow.co.uk/guides/state-pension-and-your-ni-record/?=. [Loans & savings guide](https://computenow.co.uk/guides/#loans) # The State Pension and your National Insurance record Your State Pension depends on how many qualifying years are on your National Insurance record. Here is what each year is worth, and how to check and fill gaps. Published 18 October 2026UK By the ComputeNow team, checked against GOV.UK and HMRC[Sources (4)](#sources)[How we calculate](https://computenow.co.uk/methodology/) ## 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 calculator](https://computenow.co.uk/pension-calculator/) ## What 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](https://computenow.co.uk/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. ## Related [Pension calculator Your pension pot at retirement](https://computenow.co.uk/pension-calculator/)[Take-home pay calculator Your pay after Income Tax and NI](https://computenow.co.uk/take-home-pay/)[Budget calculator Split your pay with 50/30/20](https://computenow.co.uk/budget-calculator/) ## Guides and help ### Our guides [How big could your pension be? Pension pots by the age you start saving](https://computenow.co.uk/guides/pension-pots-by-age/)[National Insurance in 2026/27 Rates, thresholds, category letters and salary sacrifice](https://computenow.co.uk/guides/national-insurance-2026-27/) ### Official services and free advice [Check your State Pension forecast GOV.UK: how much and when](https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension)[Check your National Insurance record GOV.UK: find gaps that cut your State Pension](https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record)[The new State Pension GOV.UK: who gets it and how it is worked out](https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension)[Pension Credit GOV.UK: extra money on a low retirement income](https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit) ## Article sources Each source was last checked on 18 October 2026. - [GOV.UK: The new State Pension](https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/what-youll-get) - [GOV.UK: New State Pension eligibility](https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/eligibility) - [Pensions Act 2014, section 3](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/19/section/3) - [GOV.UK: National Insurance rates and categories](https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-rates-letters) These results are an estimate, not financial advice. They use the 2026/27 rates in force on 24 October 2026 and the inputs shown, so your actual tax, pay or costs may differ. Before making a decision about your money, check the figures with HMRC or your provider, or speak to a regulated financial adviser. Free, impartial guidance is available from MoneyHelper. This page explains the rules using the 2026/27 rates in force on 24 October 2026. It is general information, not financial advice. For decisions about your own money, speak to a regulated financial adviser, or get free, impartial guidance from MoneyHelper.