State pension 2026: age, amount, and how to check your forecast

State pension is the foundation of retirement income for most British people, yet many lack clarity about how much they will receive, when they can claim it, and what they can do to increase their pension. Understanding the basics now can help you plan more effectively.

State pension age and the scheduled increase

Your State Pension age is the earliest age at which you can start receiving state pension. This age has been rising in recent years and will continue to do so. If you were born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1978, your State Pension age is between 67 and 68. The government reviews State Pension age regularly, so if you’re younger, your State Pension age will be higher than those currently retiring.

The exact age when you become eligible depends on your date of birth. Rather than relying on a general figure, use the State Pension age checker on gov.uk to find your specific age. This tool asks for your date of birth and tells you precisely when you can claim. Changes to State Pension age happen gradually, sometimes affecting people born on different dates within the same year differently.

How much state pension you will receive

The full rate of new State Pension is £241.30 per week. This is the maximum amount someone with a complete National Insurance record can receive. If your National Insurance record started after April 2016, you need 35 qualifying years of contributions to receive the full amount, and a minimum of 10 qualifying years to receive any new State Pension at all. If you have fewer than 35 years, your pension is reduced proportionally. Most people pay National Insurance through work, but you can also contribute as self-employed, through voluntary contributions, or via Home Responsibilities Protection if you were caring for children or an elderly person.

The triple lock guarantee applies to state pension. This means the government increases state pension rates by whichever is highest: inflation, average wage growth, or 2.5%. This ensures state pension does not fall behind the cost of living. The triple lock has been the basis for state pension increases since 2010, though the government temporarily suspended its earnings element for the 2022/23 uprating only, after the earnings figures for that year were distorted by the pandemic; that year’s rise was based on inflation instead.

Checking your National Insurance record and gaps

Your State Pension forecast tells you how much state pension you could receive at your State Pension age, based on your current National Insurance record. You can check your forecast online by signing in at the GOV.UK website or by requesting a paper forecast using form BR19, which you can mail or request by phone to the Future Pension Centre.

Many people have gaps in their National Insurance record—periods when they did not work, were self-employed with low profits, or were not claiming benefits. For women, gaps often occurred during years spent caring for children before tax credits automatically protected National Insurance contributions. These gaps reduce your state pension amount.

You cannot add years to your record by paying National Insurance for past employment, but you can fill voluntary gaps if the deadline has not passed. The deadline is typically five years after the end of the tax year in which the gap occurred. For tax year 2020/21 gaps, the deadline to pay has already passed. For more recent gaps, deadlines vary.

Voluntary National Insurance contributions and the deadline

If you have gaps in your National Insurance record, you can pay voluntary contributions to fill them and increase your state pension. Self-employed people with profits under £7,105 per year can also pay voluntary contributions. Voluntary contributions cost different amounts depending on which years you’re filling and your earnings, but they typically range from tens to hundreds of pounds per year.

The deadline to pay is strictly applied. For most gaps, you have five years from the end of the tax year in which the gap occurred. Once this deadline passes, you cannot fill that gap. If you are approaching State Pension age and have gaps, it’s worth checking your record quickly and paying contributions if the deadline has not yet passed. The State Pension forecast tool shows which gaps you can still fill and how much it costs.

Deferring your state pension

If you do not claim state pension when you reach State Pension age, it automatically defers without any action from you. Deferring increases your state pension amount, as the government adds an uplift to your rate. When you eventually claim, you can take it as either a lump sum (all deferred payments in one payment) or increased weekly payments for life.

Deferring works well if you plan to continue working, have other retirement income, or expect to live a long time after retirement. The financial benefit depends on how long you defer and your life expectancy. Most people defer for one to three years, though some defer longer. People receiving certain government benefits or those with prison time may not benefit from deferral in the same way.

Getting your forecast and checking it makes sense

Your State Pension forecast is not a legal promise; it is an estimate based on current rules. Forecasts can change if the government alters state pension rules (as it has before), if you earn more or less than the forecast assumes, or if you claim benefits that affect contributions. Check your forecast before retirement so you are not surprised by the amount you receive.

If your forecast seems low compared to your working life, check your National Insurance record carefully. Disputes about missing contributions can sometimes be resolved, though the process takes time. A Common Issue is that years of voluntary contributions were not recorded on the system—the Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper websites have guides on recovering missing contributions.

Key points

• Full new State Pension is £241.30 per week (requires 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions for anyone whose record started after April 2016; a minimum of 10 years gets any new State Pension)
• State Pension age ranges from 67 to 68 depending on birth date; it has risen gradually and will continue to rise
• Check your State Pension age and forecast using the gov.uk tools
• Gaps in your National Insurance record reduce your pension; you can fill recent gaps using voluntary contributions if you meet the deadline
• Voluntary contribution deadlines are strictly five years after the end of the tax year in which the gap occurred
• The triple lock ensures state pension keeps pace with inflation or wage growth
• Deferring your state pension increases the amount you receive later in life

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