When it comes to planning for retirement, knowing exactly what you’ll receive from your State Pension is essential. With rising living costs, longer life expectancy, and changes to the State Pension age, many people across the UK are asking: how much State Pension will I get?
Understanding your entitlement isn’t just about a number. It’s about knowing where you stand financially, identifying any gaps in your record, and ensuring you have enough saved for a comfortable future. Whether you’re years away from retirement age or approaching it fast, getting a clear picture of your State Pension is one of the smartest financial moves you can make.
Here are 4 simple yet essential steps to help you find out what you can expect—and what to do if it’s less than you hoped for.
Check When You Reach State Pension Age
The State Pension age is the age when you become eligible to start receiving your State Pension payments. As of 2025, the standard State Pension age is 66 for both men and women, but this is set to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, depending on when you were born. Further increases are being reviewed by the government in line with increasing life expectancy and the pressures on public finances.
To find your exact State Pension age, you can use the UK government’s State Pension age calculator at gov.uk. This tool allows you to check not just when you’ll be able to claim, but also when you're eligible for free bus passes, the Winter Fuel Payment, and other benefits.
Once you know your retirement age, you can start planning when to claim and whether you might choose to defer—which can increase your weekly payment.
Review Your National Insurance Record
Your State Pension amount is based on your National Insurance history—specifically the number of qualifying years you’ve built up through work or certain benefits. To receive the full new State Pension, you’ll need 35 years of National Insurance contributions. If you have at least 10 qualifying years, you’ll get a portion. Less than that, and you may not receive anything.
To review your National Insurance record, visit gov.uk and log in to your personal tax account using your Government Gateway ID. There you’ll see:
- The number of qualifying years you’ve completed
- Any gaps in your record
- Whether you’re eligible for National Insurance credits (e.g. for time spent caring for a child or claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance)
- Your options to fill gaps with voluntary contributions
Paying voluntary National Insurance contributions can be especially useful if you're a few years short and hoping to boost your State Pension entitlement before you retire.
Request Your State Pension Forecast
Now that you’ve confirmed your age and contribution history, the next step is to get an official estimate of how much State Pension you’re on track to receive. This is known as your State Pension statement.
You can request your forecast through:
- The "Check your State Pension" tool on gov.uk
- The State Pension forecast form (BR19)
- Your personal tax account
Your forecast will show:
- The amount of State Pension you’re likely to receive per week
- The maximum full amount available if you continue working
- Whether you fall under the new State Pension system (for people reaching pension age after 6 April 2016) or the basic State Pension
- What you can do to improve your forecast
As of the 2025–2026 tax year, the full new State Pension is £230.25 a week, or approximately £11,975 per year. However, not everyone qualifies for the full rate. Your forecast will reflect your NI record, any contracted-out years, and time spent self-employed.
Boost Your Pension If You're Not on Track
If your forecast shows that you won’t get the full State Pension, there are still steps you can take to improve your outcome before you reach retirement age.
➤ Pay Voluntary Contributions
If you have missing years in your NI record, you may be able to pay voluntary contributions to fill the gaps—especially valuable if you're within 6 years of the shortfall. This can help you increase your full amount and long-term retirement income. Use the “Check gaps” tool on your NI record page to see whether this applies to you.
➤ Defer Your State Pension
If you choose to defer claiming your pension, you’ll receive a slightly higher regular payment when you do start. For every 9 weeks you defer, your pension increases by 1%. If you defer for a full year, that’s a 5.8% boost—something to consider if you’re still earning income or don’t need to claim immediately.
➤ Claim Pension Credit If Needed
If your income is low and your State Pension won’t be enough to live on, you may qualify for Pension Credit—a top-up benefit that can increase your income and open the door to other benefits like Housing Benefit, Cold Weather Payments, and free TV licences.
Use the Pension Credit calculator at gov.uk to check if you’re eligible.
Understanding the Annual Increases – The Triple Lock
The State Pension increases every tax year thanks to the triple lock, a government guarantee that your weekly payments will rise by whichever is highest of:
- 2.5%
- The rise in average earnings
- The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rate
For example, if inflation rises by 6% and average earnings by 5%, your State Pension would increase by 6% in the next tax year, starting 6 April. This rule is designed to help pensioners keep up with living costs—though its future has been the subject of political debate.
Example Scenario: A Woman Born in 1958
Let’s consider a woman born in March 1958. Her State Pension age would have been 66 in March 2024. She worked full-time for 30 years, took 5 years off for childcare (covered by National Insurance credits), and has 2 years missing.
She checks her State Pension statement, which says she’s on track to receive £215.00 per week—less than the full rate.
By paying voluntary contributions to fill the missing 2 years, she could boost that figure to the full £230.25 a week. She also considers deferring for one year, which would increase it further to around £243 per week. That’s more than £1,400 extra annually for life.
So, how much State Pension will I get? It depends—but with the right information, tools, and action, you can get a clear and accurate answer. By checking your State Pension age, reviewing your National Insurance record, requesting a forecast, and looking for ways to boost your payments, you’ll be well on your way to a more secure retirement.
Don't wait until the last minute. The earlier you understand your entitlement, the more time you have to make changes, top up your contributions, and plan for the retirement income you deserve.
Whether you’re 10 years away from retirement or just a few months, taking control today gives you more options, more peace of mind, and more financial independence in later life.