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UK State Pension Calculator

Free UK State Pension calculator. Project weekly pension based on NI qualifying years, 35 years for the full new State Pension.

Published

Estimate UK State Pension by NI years.

Weekly pension at retirement

Annual pension

Your breakdown

Updates live as you type
Qualifying years Weekly pension

Worked example

Suppose you have 25 qualifying National Insurance years on record now and no further working years ahead. The new State Pension needs 35 years for the full amount, so 25 years earns you 25/35, about 71 percent, of the full rate. At an illustrative full rate of £230.25 a week that gives roughly £164.46 a week, or about £8,552 a year. Add ten more working years to reach 35, and you would qualify for the full £230.25 a week, around £11,973 a year. The 10-year minimum matters too: below ten qualifying years you get nothing from the new State Pension, so the first decade of contributions is the most valuable.

How it is calculated

The estimate adds your qualifying years so far to any future years you expect before reaching State Pension age, then scales the full weekly rate by that total over 35. Reach 35 or more years and you get the full amount; fall between 10 and 34 years and you get a proportionate share; drop below 10 years and you do not qualify at all. The annual figure is simply the weekly amount multiplied by 52. The full weekly rate shown here is illustrative for 2026/27 and should be checked against the official Department for Work and Pensions figure, which rises each April under the triple lock. The tool gives a clean view of the years-based mechanics, but your actual forecast can differ because of contracted-out periods or starting-amount rules carried over from the old system, so confirm your record at gov.uk before making decisions. Filling gaps with voluntary Class 3 contributions can be worthwhile if a missing year would otherwise keep you below 35.

Frequently asked questions

How to fill NI gaps?
You can buy voluntary NI contributions (Class 3 ~£17/week) to fill missing years. Check your NI record at gov.uk/check-state-pension. Cost-effective if a gap year would otherwise push you below 35.
What is the State Pension age in the UK?
The current State Pension age is 66 for both men and women. It is scheduled to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and a further increase to 68 is under government review. Your personal State Pension age may differ if transitional rules apply to your birth year.
Does the new State Pension replace the old basic State Pension?
The new State Pension replaced the old basic State Pension for people who reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016. If you have NI contributions before that date, a starting amount was calculated and the higher of the old or new rules applied. Some people with a high starting amount may already be entitled to more than the current full rate without needing additional years.
Does employment income affect how much State Pension I receive?
No, the new State Pension is not means-tested and is not reduced if you continue to work or have other income after reaching State Pension age. The amount depends solely on your NI qualifying years. You do pay income tax on State Pension if your total income exceeds the personal allowance.

Related calculators

Sources

  1. HMRC — Income Tax Rates and Personal Allowances 2026/27, HM Revenue & Customs
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