State Pension Forecast 2026/27: How to Check Your Entitlement and Fill Gaps
The full State Pension is £241.30/week (£12,548/year) in 2026/27. Here is how to get your personal forecast online, how many qualifying years you need, and whether buying voluntary NI contributions is worth it.
The State Pension in 2026/27
The full new State Pension for 2026/27 (from 7 April 2026) is £241.30 per week, equivalent to:
| Timeframe | Amount |
|---|---|
| Weekly | £241.30 |
| Monthly (×52/12) | £1,045.63 |
| Annual | £12,548 |
This represents an increase of £10.95/week (+4.8%) from the 2025/26 rate of £230.35/week, following the Triple Lock — the mechanism introduced in 2011 that guarantees the State Pension rises by the highest of CPI inflation, average wage growth, or 2.5%. For 2026/27, average earnings growth of 4.8% (measured in July 2025) was the determining factor.
For context: the full new State Pension is just below the Personal Allowance of £12,570 — meaning pensioners with no other income pay no income tax. However, even a modest second pension can push total income above the allowance.
State Pension Forecast Calculator
Forecast your UK State Pension based on qualifying NI years and model the impact of filling gap years with voluntary Class 3.
Open State Pension Forecast calculatorHow qualifying years work
Your State Pension entitlement is built up through qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or NI credits. For 2026/27:
| Qualifying years | Weekly State Pension | Annual amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 10 | £0 | £0 |
| 10 | £68.94 | £3,585 |
| 15 | £103.41 | £5,377 |
| 20 | £137.89 | £7,170 |
| 25 | £172.36 | £8,963 |
| 30 | £206.83 | £10,755 |
| 35 (full) | £241.30 | £12,548 |
A qualifying year is earned by:
- Paying Class 1 NI as an employee (if earnings exceed the Lower Earnings Limit of £6,936/year in 2026/27).
- Paying Class 2 NI as self-employed — abolished April 2024; replaced by automatic credits for profits above the Small Profits Threshold (£7,105/year).
- Receiving NI credits without paying — available for people claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12, those on certain benefits (ESA, Universal Credit), carers, and others.
- Paying voluntary Class 3 NI — to fill gaps deliberately.
How to check your personal forecast
The most important step for anyone approaching their 50s or planning retirement is to check their actual NI record — not assume everything is in order. Gaps are more common than people expect, particularly for those who:
- Took time out for childcare before claiming Child Benefit.
- Worked abroad for part of their career.
- Were self-employed in years before the new credit system.
- Had periods of low earnings below the Lower Earnings Limit.
Step-by-step:
- Go to gov.uk/check-state-pension.
- Log in with your Government Gateway account. If you do not have one, create one — you need your National Insurance number and identity verification (passport, driving licence, or HMRC letter).
- The service shows:
- Your current forecast (based on your NI record to date).
- Your forecast if you continue contributing to State Pension Age.
- A year-by-year NI record (Full / Partial / Gap for each year from age 16).
- Any gaps that can currently be filled and the exact cost to fill each gap.
It is worth doing this check at age 55+ (or earlier if you have had career breaks) — you have enough time to make meaningful decisions about voluntary contributions.
National Insurance Calculator
Calculate your National Insurance contributions for 2025/26.
National Insurance calculatorFilling NI gaps: Class 3 voluntary contributions
If your record shows gaps, you can plug them with voluntary Class 3 contributions:
| 2026/27 Class 3 rate | Per week | Per year (fill one gap year) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | £18.40 | £956.80 |
Is it worth it?
Each qualifying year adds 1/35th of the full State Pension:
- 2026/27 full State Pension ÷ 35 = £358.51/year.
- Cost of one voluntary year: £956.80.
- Break-even time: £956.80 ÷ £358.51 = 2.67 years after State Pension Age.
With average life expectancy at SPA currently around 20 years, buying a voluntary year yields a 7-fold+ return for a typical retiree. This makes Class 3 contributions one of the best-value financial decisions available to many people.
Exception: If you already have 35 or more qualifying years, additional voluntary contributions add nothing to your State Pension — check your record before paying.
The 6-year lookback rule (post April 2025)
From April 2025, HMRC returned to the standard 6-year window for voluntary NI top-ups. Gaps fillable as of 2026/27:
| Year | Can fill? |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | Yes |
| 2021/22 | Yes |
| 2022/23 | Yes |
| 2023/24 | Yes |
| 2024/25 | Yes |
| 2025/26 | Yes |
| 2026/27 (current) | Yes (until April 2033) |
| Before 2020/21 | No — window closed April 2025 |
The extended window that allowed top-ups back to 2006/07 closed permanently in April 2025. If you missed it, those gaps are no longer available to fill.
State Pension Age (SPA) — what you need to know
| Cohort | SPA |
|---|---|
| Born before 6 April 1960 | 66 (already reached SPA) |
| Born 6 April 1960 to 5 April 1977 | 67 (phased increase 2026–2028) |
| Born after 5 April 1977 | 68 (currently planned for mid-2040s) |
The increase to 67 is already legislated and will be phased in between 2026 and 2028. The increase to 68 is subject to ongoing review — the Government has committed to at least 10 years' notice before any further rise takes effect.
You can find your exact SPA at gov.uk/state-pension-age.
Deferring the State Pension
If you do not need the income immediately at SPA, you can defer your State Pension. For every 9 weeks of deferral, your weekly payment increases by 1%:
| Deferral period | Weekly increase | Annual uplift |
|---|---|---|
| 9 weeks | +1% (£2.41/wk) | +£125 |
| 6 months | +3.56% (£8.59/wk) | +£447 |
| 1 year | +5.8% (£13.99/wk) | +£728 |
Break-even for a 1-year deferral: approximately 17 years (you give up one year of payments, then receive higher payments every subsequent year). This makes deferral worth considering for those in good health who do not need the income at SPA.
The State Pension and your other income
Because the State Pension is taxable income, the interaction with other pension income and the Personal Allowance (£12,570) matters:
| Total annual income | Income tax position |
|---|---|
| State Pension only (£12,548) | Below PA — no tax |
| State Pension + £3,000 private pension | Above PA by £2,978 — tax of £596/year |
| State Pension + £12,000 private pension | Above PA by £11,978 — tax of £2,396/year |
| State Pension + £30,000 private pension | Above PA by £30,000 (partly higher rate) |
Many pensioners have their income tax collected by HMRC adjusting the tax code on their private pension — no Self Assessment needed unless income is complex.
Pension Calculator
Estimate your pension pot at retirement and projected annual income.
Pension calculatorPlanning tips
- Check at age 55 — gives you a decade to make informed decisions and purchase missing years before SPA.
- Claim Child Benefit even if you later repay via HICBC — it protects NI credits for non-working parents.
- Do not rely on having 35 full years automatically — career breaks, self-employment gaps, and periods working abroad all create gaps.
- Consider deferring if working past SPA — particularly if still in employment and your income is already above the Personal Allowance.
- Factor the State Pension into retirement cash-flow planning — at £12,548/year it materially reduces how much private pension you need to draw down.
Sources
- gov.uk: Check your State Pension forecast
- DWP: State Pension rates
- HMRC: Voluntary National Insurance
- gov.uk: Find your State Pension age
- DWP: The Triple Lock
Frequently asked questions
How much is the State Pension in 2026/27?
The full new State Pension is £241.30 per week (£12,548 per year) for 2026/27, following the Triple Lock uprating of 4.8% based on average wage growth.
How many qualifying years do I need for the full State Pension?
You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits to receive the full new State Pension. You need a minimum of 10 qualifying years to receive any State Pension at all.
How do I check my State Pension forecast?
Go to gov.uk/check-state-pension and log in with your Government Gateway account. You will see your personal forecast showing what you would get today and what you could get at State Pension Age, along with a full year-by-year NI record.
What age can I claim the State Pension?
State Pension Age is 66 for both men and women in 2026. It is legislated to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and to 68 in the mid-2040s under current plans (though the exact timeline for 68 is subject to ongoing government review).
What is the Triple Lock?
The Triple Lock guarantees the State Pension rises each April by the highest of: CPI inflation (September figure), average earnings growth (July figure), or 2.5%. For 2026/27 it was average wage growth of 4.8% that determined the increase.
Can I claim State Pension while still working?
Yes. There is no requirement to retire to claim State Pension. Once you reach State Pension Age you can claim while continuing to work. Your State Pension is taxable income and is added to any employment income for income tax purposes.
What happens if I defer my State Pension?
For every 9 weeks you defer beyond State Pension Age, your weekly State Pension increases by 1%. Deferring for one full year adds approximately 5.8% to the weekly amount — worth doing if you do not need the income immediately and are in good health.
Is the State Pension taxable?
Yes. The State Pension counts as taxable income, though tax is not deducted at source. If your total income (State Pension plus any other income) exceeds your Personal Allowance of £12,570, you will pay income tax on the excess — usually collected via a PAYE adjustment to a private pension or other income.
How much does it cost to buy a voluntary NI year?
Voluntary Class 3 NI contributions cost £18.40 per week (£956.80 per year) in 2026/27. Each year purchased adds 1/35th of the full State Pension — approximately £358.51/year for life.
Can I still fill gaps from years before 2020/21?
No. The extended window that allowed gaps to be filled back to 2006/07 closed in April 2025. From April 2025 onward, the standard 6-year lookback applies — you can only fill gaps from 2020/21 to 2025/26 (plus the current year).
Try the calculators
State Pension Forecast Calculator
Forecast your UK State Pension based on qualifying NI years and model the impact of filling gap years with voluntary Class 3.
Pension Calculator
Estimate your pension pot at retirement and projected annual income.
National Insurance Calculator
Calculate your National Insurance contributions for 2025/26.
Related reading
State Pension Top-Up: Should You Pay Voluntary NI in 2026?
The full State Pension is £241.30/wk in 2026/27. Filling NI gaps costs £956.80 per missing year but breaks even in under 3 years — if you have genuine gaps. Here's exactly how to check and whether it's worth it.
How to Fill National Insurance Gaps in 2026 — And Whether It's Worth It
Gaps in your National Insurance record reduce your State Pension. You can fill gaps going back 6 years with Class 3 voluntary NI at £18.40 per week. But not every gap is worth filling — here's how to work out if it pays.
Triple Lock State Pension 2027 Forecast: What the Next Rise Could Be
The State Pension rose 4.8% to £241.30/wk in 2026/27. The 2027/28 rise will be decided by CPI in September 2026 — currently forecast at 3%+. What pensioners and those approaching SPA need to know now.