State Pension Forecast Calculator 2026

Find out your State Pension age, how much you are on track to receive, and whether it is worth buying extra qualifying years.

Your State Pension Age
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Enter your date of birth to calculate
Years Until Pension
-
Projected Weekly Pension
£0
Projected Annual Pension
£0
NI Years at Pension Age
0 / 35
Years Still Needed
0
% of Full Pension
0%
Enter your details to get started.
NI Qualifying Years Progress
Current · projected · needed for full pension
How the State Pension Works

The new State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016) pays a maximum of £221.20 per week (£11,502.40/year) in 2026/27. You need 35 qualifying NI years for the full amount and a minimum of 10 years to receive anything at all.

Qualifying years come from: working and paying Class 1 NI as an employee · paying Class 2 NI as self-employed · receiving NI credits (e.g. claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12, Jobseeker's Allowance, ESA, or Carer's Credit) · or paying voluntary Class 3 contributions at £824.20 per year in 2026/27.

State Pension age is currently 66 for both men and women. Those born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977 will have a State Pension age of 67 (being phased in between 2026 and 2028). Those born after 5 April 1977 are expected to have a State Pension age of 68, though this is subject to legislation.

The State Pension increases each year under the triple lock: the highest of earnings growth, CPI inflation, or 2.5%.

State Pension by NI Years · 2026/27

Pro-rata based on full new State Pension of £221.20/week

NI Qualifying Years % of Full Pension Weekly Amount Annual Amount Years Still Needed
Below 100%£0£0Need 10+ to qualify
1028.6%£63.20£3,28625 more for full
1542.9%£94.80£4,93020 more for full
2057.1%£126.40£6,57315 more for full
2571.4%£158.00£8,21610 more for full
3085.7%£189.60£9,8595 more for full
35+100%£221.20£11,502Full pension

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State Pension FAQs

How do I check my National Insurance record and State Pension forecast?
The quickest way is the HMRC app or your Personal Tax Account at gov.uk/check-state-pension. You will need a Government Gateway account. Your forecast shows your projected State Pension based on your NI record to date and tells you how many more qualifying years you need. You can also call the Future Pension Centre on 0800 731 0175 to request a forecast by post. It is well worth checking your record for gaps · errors do occur and can be corrected.
Can I increase my State Pension by paying voluntary NI contributions?
Yes · if you have gaps in your NI record you can pay voluntary Class 3 contributions to fill them. In 2026/27 a qualifying year costs £824.20. Each extra year adds around £6.32 per week (£328/year) to your pension. With a typical payback period of under 3 years, buying missing years is one of the best returns available. You can usually fill gaps going back up to 6 years · check gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions for the current rules and deadlines, as temporary extensions have sometimes allowed filling gaps back to 2006.
What happens to my State Pension if I live or retire abroad?
You can claim your UK State Pension anywhere in the world. However the annual triple lock increase only applies if you live in the UK, the EEA, Switzerland, or a country with a reciprocal social security agreement with the UK. If you retire to a country without such an agreement · including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand · your pension is frozen at the rate when you first claimed or moved abroad, whichever is later. This can mean significantly less income in real terms over a long retirement. Check the list of reciprocal agreement countries on gov.uk before planning your retirement abroad.
Can I inherit my spouse or civil partner's State Pension?
Under the new State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age after 6 April 2016) you cannot directly inherit your late spouse's State Pension entitlement. However, you may be able to inherit a portion of their Additional State Pension (SERPS or State Second Pension) built up before April 2016. If your late spouse had a protected payment above the full new State Pension, you may inherit half of that protected element. The rules are complex · contact the Pension Service for a personalised assessment based on both partners' NI records.
What happens if I defer my State Pension?
If you delay claiming past your State Pension age, your payment increases by 1% for every 9 weeks you defer · roughly 5.8% per full year. On the full new State Pension of £221.20/week, one year of deferral adds around £12.85 per week (£668/year). There is no maximum deferral period. Unlike the old State Pension, you cannot take a deferred lump sum under the new rules · the uplift only comes as a higher weekly amount. Deferral makes most sense if you have other income and expect to live well into your 70s or beyond.

For informational purposes only · Not financial advice · State Pension rates shown are for 2026/27 · State Pension age rules for those born after 1977 are subject to future legislation