How much is the State Pension in 2026/27?

The two State Pension rates for 2026/27

There are two State Pensions in the UK, and which one you get depends on when you reached, or will reach, State Pension age.

If you are still working and planning ahead, the new State Pension is the one that applies to you. The rest of this guide focuses on it.

The State Pension is usually paid every four weeks, in arrears, straight into your bank account. A full four-week payment at the new rate is £965.20.

Why you might get less than £241.30

£241.30 is the full rate, not a guaranteed amount. What you get depends on your National Insurance (NI) record: the years in which you paid NI, or were credited with it.

• 35 qualifying years usually gets you the full new State Pension, if your NI record started after April 2016.
• Fewer than 35 years gets you a proportion. Each year is worth one thirty-fifth of the full rate: about £6.89 a week, or roughly £359 a year.
• Fewer than 10 years usually means no new State Pension at all.

Here is how that works with real numbers, assuming no contracting out:

The contracting-out catch

If you worked before April 2016, your amount is not simply years divided by 35. Many people in workplace pensions were "contracted out": they paid less NI and built up a private pension instead of part of the State Pension. When the new system started in 2016, the government worked out a "starting amount" for everyone, and contracted-out years reduced it.

That is why some people with 35 years or more still see less than £241.30 in their forecast. In many cases, extra years worked after 2016 can fill the gap, up to the full rate.

The opposite can also happen. If your starting amount in 2016 was higher than the full new rate, you keep the extra as a "protected payment".

How to check your own amount

You do not have to work any of this out by hand. The government's free State Pension forecast shows:

• how much you could get, based on your record so far;
• your State Pension age;
• whether gaps in your record could be filled by paying voluntary contributions.

You need a Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login account. It takes about ten minutes the first time.

Filling gaps: is it worth paying voluntary NI?

If your forecast shows gaps, you may be able to pay voluntary Class 3 contributions to fill them. Each year you add is worth about £359 a year of State Pension, for life, on today's rates.

That is why it often pays for itself within a few years of starting your pension. But it is not always worth it. Paying for a year only helps if it actually increases your forecast. If you will reach 35 years anyway by working until State Pension age, or if you were contracted out and the year does not move your amount, the money is wasted.

Our guide to voluntary National Insurance explains the costs, the payback and when not to pay.

The forecast page tells you which years would increase your pension. Check it before paying, and check what the year costs on GOV.UK.

Is the State Pension taxed?

Yes. The State Pension counts as taxable income, but it is paid "gross", without tax taken off.

Here is the catch. The Personal Allowance, the amount you can earn before paying income tax, is frozen at £12,570. The full new State Pension is now £12,547.60 a year. The gap between them is only about £22.

• If the State Pension is your only income, you pay no income tax in 2026/27.
• If you have any other income, such as a workplace pension, part-time work or savings interest above your allowances, almost all of it will be taxed.

When you also have a private pension, HMRC usually collects the tax due on your State Pension by adjusting the tax code on that other pension. That is why many people see their private pension payments fall when their State Pension starts.

The government has said that from April 2027, people whose only income is the basic or new State Pension will not have to pay small amounts of tax through Simple Assessment. The details are still to be confirmed.

How the State Pension goes up each year

The State Pension rises every April under the "triple lock". It goes up by the highest of:

1. average earnings growth;
2. CPI inflation in the September before;
3. 2.5%.

The April 2026 rise was 4.8%, matching earnings growth. The rise for April 2027 will be confirmed in the autumn, usually at the Budget. We will update this page when it is announced.

Can you get more by delaying it?

You do not have to claim your State Pension as soon as you reach State Pension age. If you put it off, it grows by 1% for every nine weeks you wait. That is just under 5.8% for a full year.

On the full rate, waiting one year adds about £14 a week, or roughly £725 a year, for life. You would need to live about 17 more years for that extra to make up for the year of payments you gave up, before tax. It can still make sense if you are working and paying higher-rate tax, but for most people taking it on time is simpler.

The rules are on GOV.UK: Deferring your State Pension.

This guide is general information, not personal financial advice. Rules can change and your situation may differ. For free, impartial help, contact MoneyHelper, or speak to a regulated financial adviser.