How Much Is the State Pension in 2026/27?
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in the 2026/27 tax year, which works out at £12,547.60 a year. That is after a 4.8% rise in April 2026, driven by wage growth under the triple lock. Most people do not get exactly the full amount, so here is how the figures break down and how to check what you are actually in line for.
The 2026/27 rates at a glance
There are two State Pension systems, and which one you are in depends on when you reach State Pension age. If you reached it on or after 6 April 2016, you are on the new State Pension. If you reached it before then, you are on the old system, built around the basic State Pension.
| Weekly (2026/27) | Yearly (2026/27) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full new State Pension | £241.30 | £12,547.60 |
| Full basic State Pension (old system) | £184.90 | £9,614.80 |
Both figures rose by 4.8% in April 2026 because the triple lock tracks whichever is highest of average earnings growth, inflation, or 2.5%. This year earnings growth won. People on the old system may also get additional State Pension on top of the basic amount, depending on their work history. Source: House of Commons Library, Benefits Uprating 2026/27.
Why "full" does not mean everyone
The full new State Pension needs around 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits. You need at least 10 years to get anything at all. Years spent working, claiming certain benefits, or receiving Child Benefit for a child under 12 all usually count.
If you have fewer than 35 years, you get a proportion. Each qualifying year is worth roughly 1/35th of the full amount, which is about £6.89 a week or £359 a year at 2026/27 rates. Some people who were contracted out of the additional State Pension before 2016 may get less than the headline figure even with 35 years, so the only reliable answer is your personal forecast.
Check your forecast first
The free forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension shows what you are on track for, how many qualifying years you have, and whether you have gaps. It takes a few minutes with a Government Gateway login and it is the single most useful check you can do.
The State Pension age is rising to 67 right now
The State Pension age was 66 for both men and women, and it is increasing to 67 in stages between April 2026 and March 2028. If you were born between 6 April 1960 and 5 March 1961, you reach State Pension age somewhere between 66 and 67, depending on your exact date of birth. Born on or after 6 March 1961? Your State Pension age is 67.
A further rise to 68 is currently scheduled for 2044 to 2046, though governments review this timetable regularly. You can check your own date at gov.uk/state-pension-age.
Yes, the State Pension is taxable
The State Pension counts as taxable income, although it is paid without any tax deducted. The personal allowance is frozen at £12,570, and the full new State Pension is now £12,547.60. That leaves a buffer of just £22.40 a year. So if you get the full amount and have almost any other income, a workplace pension, savings interest above your allowances, or part-time work, some of it will be taxed. HMRC usually collects this through the tax code on your other pension or through Simple Assessment.
If the triple lock produces another rise above 0.2% in April 2027, the full new State Pension will pass the frozen personal allowance on its own. The government has said pensioners whose only income is the State Pension will not be chased for tiny amounts through Simple Assessment, but the detail is still emerging, so treat this as one to watch.
Will your pot fill the gap?
£12,548 a year from the state is a foundation, not a retirement plan. Put your numbers into our free calculator to see what your private pension adds on top.
Try the calculator →Filling gaps in your record
If your forecast shows gaps, you can usually pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance to fill them. In 2026/27 that costs £18.40 a week, or £956.80 for a full year (source: GOV.UK voluntary contribution rates). One extra qualifying year adds about £359 a year to your State Pension for life, so the top-up typically pays for itself within about three years of retirement.
Two cautions before you pay anything. First, extra years do not always increase your pension, for example if you were contracted out or will reach 35 years anyway before State Pension age. Second, you can normally only go back six years. Ring the Future Pension Centre before parting with money; they will confirm whether a top-up actually boosts your entitlement.
What to do next
- Get your forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension and note any gaps.
- Check your State Pension age, especially if you were born in 1960 or 1961.
- If you have gaps, phone the Future Pension Centre before buying voluntary years.
- Work out how your private pension and the State Pension combine, because the state alone rarely covers a comfortable retirement.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Figures relate to the 2026/27 tax year and are correct as of July 2026; State Pension rates and rules change each April. For advice tailored to you, speak to a financial adviser regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), or get free guidance from MoneyHelper.