The State Pension is a regular payment from the UK government that you can claim when you reach State Pension age. It is funded by National Insurance contributions made during your working life — and those of other taxpayers — rather than being a personal savings pot.
For many people, the State Pension will form at least part of their retirement income. Understanding how it works, what you are entitled to, and how to check your forecast is an important part of planning for the future.
What is the new State Pension?
The new State Pension applies to people who reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016. It replaced the previous basic State Pension and the additional State Pension (also known as SERPS or S2P).
The full new State Pension is currently £221.20 per week (2024/25 figure — check gov.uk for the current amount, as it is reviewed annually). It is paid every four weeks directly into your bank account.
The amount you receive depends on your National Insurance record. You need at least 10 qualifying years of National Insurance to receive any State Pension, and 35 qualifying years to receive the full amount.
What is State Pension age?
State Pension age is currently 66 for both men and women. It is planned to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and to 68 between 2044 and 2046 — though these dates have been subject to government review and may change.
You can check your personal State Pension age at gov.uk/state-pension-age.
What are qualifying years?
A qualifying year is a tax year in which you have paid, been credited with, or been treated as having paid enough National Insurance contributions. You build up qualifying years through:
- Working and paying National Insurance contributions as an employee or self-employed person
- Receiving National Insurance credits — for example, while claiming certain benefits, caring for children or grandchildren, or being a carer
- Voluntary National Insurance contributions, which you can pay to fill gaps in your record
Gaps in your National Insurance record — for example, years spent abroad, in education, or outside the workforce without NI credits — can reduce your State Pension entitlement.
How to check your State Pension forecast
You can get a State Pension forecast — showing how much you are currently on track to receive and when you can claim it — through your personal tax account at gov.uk/check-state-pension. You will need a Government Gateway account to log in.
Your forecast shows your current entitlement based on your NI record to date, an estimate of what you might receive if you continue contributing until State Pension age, and information about any gaps in your record.
Can you top up your State Pension?
Yes — if you have gaps in your National Insurance record, you may be able to fill them by making voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions. This can increase your State Pension entitlement. Whether it is worthwhile depends on the cost of filling the gap compared to the additional pension you would receive over your retirement.
The government has extended deadlines for filling historical NI gaps on several occasions — check the current rules at gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions.
Can you defer your State Pension?
Yes. If you delay claiming your State Pension beyond State Pension age, your payments increase when you do start claiming. The rate of increase for deferral is currently 1% for every 9 weeks you defer, which works out at approximately 5.8% for every full year. This can be worthwhile if you expect to live well into retirement and do not need the income immediately.
Is the State Pension taxable?
Yes — the State Pension counts as taxable income. However, it is paid without tax deducted at source. If the State Pension and any other taxable income together exceed your personal allowance, you may owe income tax. HMRC usually collects this through the PAYE system if you have other income, or through a self-assessment tax return.
What about the old basic State Pension?
If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, you receive the old basic State Pension rather than the new State Pension. Different rules and amounts apply. Check your entitlement at gov.uk/state-pension.