State Pension Forecast Calculator 2026/27
Estimate your weekly new State Pension from your National Insurance record — and see how much more you could build by adding qualifying years before you reach State Pension age.
How Your New State Pension is Calculated in 2026/27
The new State Pension applies to anyone reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016. Its headline rule is simple: 35 qualifying years of National Insurance gives you the full rate, currently £241.30 per week (£12,547.60 a year) for 2026/27 after the 4.8% triple-lock uprating. Fewer than 35 years gives a proportional amount, and below 10 qualifying years you get nothing at all.
The core formula for a clean post-2016 record is:
Weekly amount by qualifying years (2026/27)
| Qualifying years | Weekly amount | Annual (× 52) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| 10 | £68.94 | £3,584.86 |
| 15 | £103.41 | £5,377.29 |
| 20 | £137.89 | £7,169.71 |
| 25 | £172.36 | £8,962.14 |
| 30 | £206.83 | £10,754.57 |
| 35 or more | £241.30 | £12,547.60 |
Source: House of Commons Library Benefits Uprating 2026/27; DWP confirmed rates effective 6 April 2026. Last verified May 2026.
Why the Simple Formula Doesn't Fit Everyone
The "years ÷ 35" formula is only exact if your entire National Insurance record was built from April 2016 onwards. Most people approaching retirement today have contributions stretching back decades, so the DWP uses a more involved "starting amount" calculation at 6 April 2016 — and two things commonly push your real figure away from the formula.
1. The starting amount (transition from the old system)
For anyone with NI contributions before April 2016, the DWP calculated your position under both the old rules (basic plus additional State Pension) and the new rules as at 6 April 2016, and took the higher of the two as your starting amount. If that figure was above the new full rate, the excess is preserved as a protected payment — which is why some people legitimately receive more than £241.30 a week. If it was below, you've been able to build it up toward the full rate by adding qualifying years since 2016.
2. Contracting out (the COPE deduction)
If you were ever "contracted out" — common in final-salary workplace schemes and some personal pensions before April 2016 — you and your employer paid lower National Insurance, on the basis that the scheme would provide a replacement for the additional State Pension. Those contracted-out years carry a Contracted-Out Pension Equivalent (COPE) deduction, so your starting amount, and therefore your new State Pension, is reduced. This is the single most common reason a forecast comes in below the full rate despite a long working life.
Three Forecast Scenarios — and What They Tell You
Scenario 1 — 22 years now, 8 working years left
Scenario 2 — 40 years on the record
Scenario 3 — 38 years but contracted out for 15 of them
Is the State Pension Enough to Live On?
The full new State Pension of £12,547.60 a year sits below most independent estimates of a minimum retirement living standard for a single person. For many households the State Pension is a foundation, not a complete retirement income — which is why the forecast figure matters for wider planning, not just curiosity.
| Income source | Role in retirement |
|---|---|
| Full new State Pension | £12,547.60/yr — the guaranteed foundation |
| Workplace / private pension | Top-up via drawdown or annuity — see Drawdown Tax Calculator |
| Pension Credit | Tops up low income above State Pension age, and unlocks other help |
| Savings & investments | Flexible buffer; affects means-tested benefits above £10,000 |
If your forecast is low and you'll be over State Pension age, you may qualify for Pension Credit, which tops a single person's income up to £238.00 a week for 2026/27 and acts as a gateway to further help. A successful Pension Credit claim of even £1 a week can unlock a free TV licence (over-75s), Warm Home Discount, Council Tax Reduction, and help with NHS costs. Use the Pension Credit Calculator to check, and the Passport Benefits Guide to see everything it opens up.
Common Mistakes When Forecasting Your State Pension
- Counting working years instead of qualifying years. A year only counts if you paid or were credited with enough NI. Part years, low-earning years, and gaps may not qualify even if you were technically employed.
- Forgetting NI credits. Years spent claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12, receiving Carer's Allowance, or on certain other benefits usually earn NI credits — many people undercount their record by ignoring these.
- Assuming a long career guarantees the full rate. Contracted-out years can leave even a 40-year record short of £241.30 a week.
- Paying for years beyond 35. Unless you have a protected payment, a 36th qualifying year adds nothing. Always check your current forecast before buying voluntary contributions.
- Buying back the wrong years. Pre-2016 voluntary contributions don't always increase a new State Pension if your starting amount was already at or above the new full rate at April 2016. The NI Gaps Calculator and your GOV.UK forecast show which specific years would actually help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many NI years do I need for the full new State Pension?
Generally 35 qualifying years for the full rate of £241.30 a week in 2026/27, and at least 10 qualifying years to receive anything. Between 10 and 35 years you get a proportional amount — roughly 1/35 of the full rate, about £6.89 a week, for each qualifying year.
Why is my forecast below the full rate even with a long working life?
The most common reason is contracting out before April 2016, which applied to many final-salary workplace schemes. Contracted-out years carry a COPE deduction that reduces your new State Pension. Your workplace pension was intended to replace the additional State Pension you gave up, so it isn't necessarily a loss overall — but it does mean the simple formula overstates your State Pension.
Does working beyond 35 qualifying years increase my pension?
No — under the new State Pension, once you reach 35 qualifying years your weekly amount is capped at the full rate and extra years add nothing. The only exception is people with a protected payment carried over from the old system, whose total can exceed the standard full rate.
Can I increase my forecast by paying voluntary National Insurance?
Often, yes — but only for years that actually count toward your figure. If you're below 35 qualifying years and below the full rate, buying back missing years can lift your pension by around £358 a year for life per year purchased. The NI Gaps Calculator compares the one-off cost against the lifetime gain, and your GOV.UK forecast confirms which specific years would help.
Is the new State Pension taxable?
Yes — the State Pension counts as taxable income, though it is paid without tax deducted. If your total income (State Pension plus any other pensions or earnings) exceeds your Personal Allowance, you'll pay income tax on the excess. With the full new State Pension now at £12,547.60, it sits very close to the standard Personal Allowance, so even modest additional income can become taxable.
What if my forecast is low and I'm on a low income in retirement?
You may qualify for Pension Credit once you reach State Pension age. It tops a single person's weekly income up to £238.00 (2026/27) and is a gateway to other support including help with Council Tax, NHS costs, and a free TV licence for the over-75s. Around a third of eligible households don't claim it, so it's well worth checking with the Pension Credit Calculator.
Disclaimer: This tool provides a formula-based estimate for informational purposes only and cannot account for contracting-out adjustments or protected payments specific to your record. For your official, personalised forecast use the GOV.UK Check your State Pension service or call the Future Pension Centre on 0800 731 0175.