State Pension Forecast Calculator 2026/27
Your state pension is based on your National Insurance record. You need 35 qualifying years to receive the full new state pension of £241.30 per week in 2026/27. For every year below 35 you receive a proportionally smaller amount, and you need at least 10 qualifying years to receive anything at all. This calculator uses your current NI qualifying years and any additional years you expect to accrue before retirement to show your projected weekly, monthly and annual state pension income. The forecast uses current 2026/27 rates, actual future payments will be subject to triple lock increases.
How the state pension forecast works
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1Your qualifying years are counted
Each year in which you pay National Insurance contributions (or receive NI credits through unemployment, illness, or caring responsibilities) counts as one qualifying year towards your state pension.
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2Total years are capped at 35
The new state pension requires exactly 35 qualifying years for the full amount. Years beyond 35 do not increase your pension further. If you have fewer than 10, you receive nothing.
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3A proportional amount is calculated
Your pension is calculated as: (your qualifying years / 35) x £241.30 per week. So 20 qualifying years would give you 20/35 x £241.30 = £131.57 per week at current rates.
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4Weekly figure is converted to monthly and annual
Monthly is calculated as the weekly figure x 52 / 12. Annual is the weekly figure x 52. The state pension is paid every four weeks, not monthly.
2026/27 state pension rates
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Full new state pension (weekly) | £241.30 |
| Full new state pension (annual) | £12,548 |
| Qualifying years required for full pension | 35 years |
| Minimum qualifying years to receive anything | 10 years |
| Pension per qualifying year (weekly) | £6.579 |
| Current state pension age | 66 |
What your results mean
Your state pension forecast shows the amount you would receive each week at today's rates, assuming you accrue the qualifying years you have entered. It is based entirely on the new state pension (post-April 2016) and does not factor in any entitlements built up under the old basic state pension or additional state pension (SERPS) before that date.
What counts as a qualifying year?
A qualifying year is any tax year in which you have either paid enough National Insurance contributions or received NI credits. You can get NI credits automatically if you are claiming certain benefits such as Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance, or Carer's Allowance. Parents who claim Child Benefit for a child under 12 also receive NI credits automatically.
The state pension is taxable
One of the most commonly missed facts about the state pension is that it is taxable income. It is paid by HMRC without any tax deducted at source. If your total retirement income, including the state pension, private pension withdrawals, and any other income, exceeds the personal allowance, you may receive a tax bill or have tax collected via your private pension provider's PAYE code. Plan accordingly.
Triple lock and future increases
This calculator uses the 2026/27 state pension rate. The triple lock policy means the state pension rises each April by the highest of earnings growth, inflation (CPI), or 2.5%. The actual amount you receive at retirement will likely be higher than this forecast shows.
Check your actual NI record: You can view your full National Insurance history and state pension forecast on your personal tax account at gov.uk. The figures there will be more accurate than this tool because they reflect your actual record, including any credits you may have received.
Frequently asked questions
The full new state pension is £241.30 per week in 2026/27, equivalent to £12,548 per year. To receive this you need 35 qualifying National Insurance years. If you have between 10 and 34 qualifying years, you receive a proportionally smaller amount. If you have fewer than 10 qualifying years, you do not receive any state pension at all.
You can view your NI record for free on the gov.uk website via your personal tax account. Log in with a Government Gateway account and select "Check your National Insurance record". This shows you each tax year, whether it counts as a qualifying year, and any gaps in your record. You can also request a state pension forecast which shows what you would currently receive.
Yes. You can pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions to fill gaps in your record. In 2026/27, one qualifying year costs £956.80. Each year you buy adds approximately £6.33 to your weekly state pension, meaning the cost typically pays for itself within two to three years of claiming. You can normally buy back the previous six tax years, though a temporary scheme allowing purchases back to 2006 may have ended by the time you read this, check gov.uk for the current rules.
Yes, the state pension is taxable income. However, it is paid without any tax deducted at source. If your total retirement income, the state pension plus any private pension or other income, exceeds your personal allowance (£12,570 in 2026/27), tax will typically be collected through your private pension provider's PAYE code. This can catch people off guard if they are not expecting a deduction from their workplace or personal pension payments.
For most people in 2025, state pension age is 66. It is rising to 67 on a phased basis between 2026 and 2028 for people born between 6 March 1961 and 5 April 1977. A further rise to 68 has been proposed for people born after 5 April 1977, though this is subject to review. Use the State Pension Age Checker tool on this site to find your exact pension date based on your date of birth.
No. Some people who were contracted out of the Additional State Pension (SERPS) before April 2016 may receive a lower new state pension than their qualifying years would suggest. This is because contracted-out workers paid lower NI rates and a deduction is applied to their starting amount. If you were contracted out at any point, the gov.uk state pension forecast tool will give you a more accurate figure than this calculator can provide.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for guidance purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. Always consult a regulated financial adviser for personal pension planning.