State Pension 2026/27: how much is the full State Pension?

How much is the State Pension in 2026/27?

Both State Pensions rose by 4.8% in April 2026. The table shows the main 2026/27 rates and what they are worth over a 4-week pay period and a full year.¹

Full new State Pension (weekly)	£241.30
Every 4 weeks / a year	£965.20 / £12,547.60
Full basic State Pension, Category A or B (weekly)	£184.90
Every 4 weeks / a year	£739.60 / £9,614.80
Basic State Pension on a spouse's or civil partner's record, Category B lower rate (weekly)	£110.75
Over 80 pension, Category D (weekly, maximum)	£110.75
Age addition from 80 (weekly)	£0.25

These are the full rates. What you actually get depends on your own National Insurance record, so two people of the same age can get quite different amounts.

Which State Pension will I get?

You get the new State Pension if you are a man born on or after 6 April 1951 or a woman born on or after 6 April 1953. If you were born before those dates, you get the basic State Pension, plus any Additional State Pension you built up.³

Many people who reached State Pension age after April 2016 also had a 'starting amount' worked out from their record before 2016. If you paid into the Additional State Pension and would have received more under the old rules, the extra is paid as a 'protected payment' on top of the full rate.²

How many qualifying years do I need?

You need at least 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension, and usually 35 for the full rate. If you were 'contracted out' of the Additional State Pension before 2016, for example through a workplace or public-sector pension, you will usually need more than 35 years for the full rate.²³

A qualifying year can come from working and paying National Insurance, or from credits, for example while claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12, getting Carer's Allowance or Universal Credit, or while you were ill and claiming benefits. Gaps can sometimes be filled with voluntary contributions; your State Pension forecast on GOV.UK shows whether that would add anything.

What is the State Pension age in 2026?

State Pension age is 66 for people born on or before 5 April 1960. It is now rising to 67 in monthly steps: someone born between 6 April and 5 May 1960 reaches State Pension age at 66 years and 1 month, someone born between 6 May and 5 June 1960 at 66 years and 2 months, and so on, up to 66 years and 11 months for people born between 6 February and 5 March 1961. People born after that reach it at 67.⁵

State Pension age is reviewed regularly, so check your own date with the GOV.UK State Pension age checker. You do not get your State Pension automatically; you have to claim it, and you should get a letter with an invitation code before you reach State Pension age.¹⁰

Is the State Pension taxable?

Yes. The State Pension is taxable income, but it is paid without any tax taken off.⁷ Any tax due is usually collected through the tax code on a private or workplace pension, or a wage.

In 2026/27 the full new State Pension of £12,547.60 a year is £22.40 below the £12,570 Personal Allowance. So if the State Pension is your only income, you pay no income tax on it this year. If you have other income, the State Pension uses up most of your Personal Allowance, which is why tax often appears on a small private pension.

How is the State Pension paid, and can I put it off?

The new State Pension is usually paid every 4 weeks into your bank, building society or credit union account. Your payment day depends on the last two digits of your National Insurance number.⁴

You can choose to start it later. Under the new State Pension, it goes up by 1% for every 9 weeks you put it off, about 5.8% for a full year, and you must put it off for at least 9 weeks to get an increase.⁶ You cannot build up extra State Pension while you get certain benefits, such as Pension Credit, Universal Credit or Carer's Allowance.⁶

What changes at age 80?

At 80, your State Pension gets a small age addition of 25p a week.¹ Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit do not change at 80.

If you are 80 or over and get no basic State Pension, or less than £110.75 a week, you may be able to get the over 80 pension, which tops you up to as much as £110.75 a week in 2026/27. You have to claim it.⁸

What if my State Pension is low? Check Pension Credit

Pension Credit tops up weekly income to £238.00 if you are single or £363.25 for a couple. It adds more if you are severely disabled (£86.05 a week, for example if you get Attendance Allowance and live alone) or are a carer (£48.15).⁹

Someone on the full basic State Pension of £184.90 and no other income could get £53.10 a week, about £2,761 a year. Someone on the full new State Pension is just above the single guarantee level, but may still qualify if they have the disability or carer addition, or rent and need help through Housing Benefit.

Pension Credit can be backdated by up to 3 months, and it can unlock Council Tax Reduction, Housing Benefit and other help. Our Pension Credit calculator gives an estimate in a couple of minutes.