How much UK state pension will I get
Your UK State Pension: Securing a Foundation for Your Financial Future
For decades, the UK State Pension has been a cornerstone of retirement planning, providing a regular income from the government once you reach a certain age. But with rules evolving, understanding how much you might receive and when you can claim it is more vital than ever. At Plouta, we believe that knowledge is the key to protecting your money, saving effectively, and safeguarding your future to achieve financial independence and freedom. This guide is designed to do just that.
We'll break down the current State Pension system, your State Pension age, explain how the amounts are calculated, and touch upon crucial upcoming changes, helping you plan with greater confidence.
What is the UK State Pension?
The State Pension is a regular payment from the government that you can claim when you reach your State Pension age. It's not means-tested, meaning your other income or savings don't usually affect your eligibility, but it is based on your National Insurance (NI) record. Think of your NI contributions and credits throughout your working life as building blocks towards this important retirement income stream.
When Will I Get My State Pension? (Understanding Your State Pension Age)
Your State Pension age (SPA) isn't the same for everyone; it depends on your date of birth. Historically, it was 60 for women and 65 for men, but it has been gradually equalised and is continuing to rise.
Current State Pension Age: As of 2025, the State Pension age is 66 for both men and women.
Upcoming Changes: The State Pension age is legislated to increase to 67 for those born on or after April 6, 1960. This increase will be phased in between May 2026 and March 2028.
Future Rises: There are further plans to increase the State Pension age to 68 between 2044 and 2046, although the government periodically reviews this timetable, and it could potentially be brought forward.
The most accurate way to find out your exact State Pension age is to use the government's online checker on the GOV.UK website. This tool will give you a personalised date based on your birth details. Knowing this date is fundamental to your retirement planning.
How Much State Pension Will I Get in 2025/26?
The amount of State Pension you receive depends on when you reached (or will reach) State Pension age and your National Insurance record. There are two main systems:
1. The New State Pension (For those reaching State Pension Age on or after April 6, 2016)
If you fall into this category, your State Pension is calculated under the new rules:
Full New State Pension Amount (2025/26): The full rate for the new State Pension is £230.25 per week (approximately £11,973 per year).
Qualifying National Insurance Years: To get the full new State Pension, you typically need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits.
Minimum Qualifying Years: You usually need at least 10 qualifying years to receive any new State Pension. These don't have to be consecutive years.
Pro-Rata Amount: If you have between 10 and 34 qualifying years, you'll receive a proportion of the full amount. Each qualifying year effectively adds about 1/35th of the full pension to your entitlement (approx. £6.58 per week per qualifying year as of 2025/26).
Impact of "Contracting Out": If you were "contracted out" of the Additional State Pension (like SERPS or S2P) through a workplace or personal pension scheme before April 6, 2016, this might affect your new State Pension amount. Your starting amount for the new State Pension calculation in 2016 would have been adjusted to reflect this. It's complex, but your State Pension forecast will take this into account.
2. The Basic State Pension (For those who reached State Pension Age before April 6, 2016)
If you reached your State Pension age before this date, you claim under the old rules:
Full Basic State Pension Amount (2025/26): The full basic State Pension is £176.45 per week (approximately £9,175.40 per year).
Additional State Pension: Under the old system, you might also have built up entitlement to an Additional State Pension (e.g., SERPS, State Second Pension), which is paid on top of the basic amount. The amount varies significantly from person to person.
The "Triple Lock" – Protecting Your Pension's Value
The State Pension is currently increased each April by the "triple lock." This means it rises by the highest of:
Average earnings growth (typically based on figures from May-July of the previous year)
Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation (typically based on the previous September's figure)
2.5%
For April 2025, the State Pension increased by 4.1% (in line with average earnings growth). While the triple lock provides valuable protection against inflation, its long-term affordability is often debated by policymakers.
Essential Step: Check Your State Pension Forecast
The single most important action you can take is to check your State Pension forecast online via the GOV.UK website. This free service will:
Tell you your estimated State Pension amount based on your current National Insurance record.
Show you your State Pension age.
Detail your National Insurance contribution history, highlighting any gaps.
Knowing your forecast is crucial for understanding what you can expect and identifying if you need to take action to improve it. You'll usually need a Government Gateway account to access this.
Can I Boost My State Pension Amount?
If your forecast shows you're not on track for the full State Pension, or you simply want to maximise what you get, there are ways to potentially increase it:
Make Voluntary National Insurance Contributions: If you have gaps in your NI record (e.g., due to periods of low earnings, living abroad, or being unemployed but not claiming benefits that provide NI credits), you might be able to make voluntary contributions (Class 3 NICs) to fill these gaps. There are time limits for doing this (usually within the last 6 years, though there are currently extended deadlines for certain older gaps – check GOV.UK for the latest).
Claim National Insurance Credits: You may be eligible for NI credits if you're not working due to illness, caring responsibilities (e.g., for a child under 12 or a disabled person), or unemployment (and claiming relevant benefits). These credits count towards your State Pension just like paid contributions.
Deferring Your State Pension: You don't have to claim your State Pension as soon as you reach State Pension age. You can choose to defer (delay) taking it.
For the New State Pension: If you defer for at least 9 weeks, your weekly pension will increase by 1% for every 9 weeks you defer. This works out to just under 5.8% for every full year of deferral. The extra amount is then paid with your regular State Pension when you do claim it, and it's also usually uprated annually.
For the Basic State Pension (pre-April 2016): The rules are more generous – deferral for a year increases your pension by 10.4%, or you might have the option of a one-off lump sum payment (which is taxable).
Deferral can be a good option if you're still working or have other income, but it's a personal decision that depends on your health, financial circumstances, and tax position.
Your Path to Financial Clarity – Our Pension Calculator
Understanding your State Pension is a vital piece of your retirement puzzle. But to truly see the bigger picture and plan for the financial independence you deserve, it's essential to consider all your potential retirement income streams.
Our comprehensive Pension Calculator can help you:
Factor in your State Pension forecast alongside your workplace and personal pensions.
See how your current savings and contributions could translate into overall retirement income.
Experiment with different scenarios, like increasing your private pension contributions, to see how you can bridge any potential income gap.
Gain a clearer vision of your path to achieving financial freedom in retirement.
Take a few minutes to use our calculator – it's a powerful step towards safeguarding your future.
UK Pension & Retirement Planning Calculator
Your Details & Current Pension
Your Pension Contributions
How much you want to take as a tax-free lump sum
You are entitled to take up to 25% tax free from your defined contribution pension pot. Adjust the amount you could take to see the change in your retirement income.
Do you have a defined benefit pension? (salary related) (Optional)
Your Retirement Goals
Your Estimated Pension Results
This is the total of your existing pension pot and all contributions (personal grossed up, and employer) made until your planned retirement age.
Projected value of your defined contribution pension pot(s) at retirement.
Amount you can take from your defined contribution pot tax-free.
Combines income from your private pension pot (after tax-free cash), State Pension (if included), and Defined Benefit pension (if applicable and started).
Compares your estimated total annual income against your desired income. A positive value is a surplus, negative is a shortfall.
An estimate of when your defined contribution pension pot (after tax-free cash) might be depleted, assuming withdrawals to cover income needs not met by State or Defined Benefit pensions, and continued modest growth in retirement. This does not mean all income stops if you have State or DB pensions.
Important Assumptions:
- State Pension: Based on current full new State Pension rates if included.
- Investment Growth (Accumulation): 5.0% per year before charges.
- Investment Growth (Decumulation/In Retirement): 3.0% per year before charges (used for pot run-out calculation).
- Annual Charges: 0.5% (as specified by you, deducted from growth rates).
- Tax Relief: Basic rate (20%) tax relief is automatically added to your personal contributions.
- Annual Income from DC Pot: For initial estimation, 4% of the pot remaining after tax-free cash is used. The run-out calculation uses actual withdrawals based on your desired income and other income sources.
- Inflation: Projections are in future money and not adjusted for inflation within these primary results.
- Defined Benefit Income: Assumed to be a fixed nominal amount starting at the age you specify and not inflation-linked within this calculator.
- This is an illustration, not financial advice. Personal circumstances can vary.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an illustration based on the figures you input and does not constitute financial advice. Actual returns may vary. Projections do not account for taxes beyond basic rate relief on contributions or potential platform fees unless entered.
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Important Considerations & Upcoming Changes
Planning for retirement requires staying informed:
State Pension Age Increases: Be aware of the legislated increases to 67 and the planned further rise to 68. These timetables are subject to government review, so it's wise to check for updates periodically.
Taxable Income: Remember that the State Pension is taxable income. If your total annual income (including State Pension and any other pensions or earnings) exceeds your Personal Allowance (£12,570 in 2025/26), you will pay income tax.
Government Reviews: The State Pension system is a significant expense for the government, and aspects like the triple lock and the State Pension age are regularly debated and reviewed. Keep an eye on government announcements.
Living Abroad: If you plan to live abroad in retirement, your eligibility for annual increases to your UK State Pension can depend on the country you move to.
The State Pension: A Foundation for Your Financial Freedom
Your State Pension provides a valuable foundation for your retirement income, but for many, it won't be enough on its own to fund the comfortable and independent retirement they envision.
At Plouta, we're committed to empowering you with the knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions. By understanding your State Pension entitlement, checking your forecast, and taking steps to maximise it alongside your other savings and investments, you are actively working to protect your money, save for your future, and build the financial independence you deserve.
Start planning today – your future self will thank you.
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Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the UK State Pension and is based on information available as of June 2025. State Pension rules, amounts, and ages can change. This information does not constitute financial advice. You should always check the latest information on the GOV.UK website and consider seeking independent financial advice tailored to your personal circumstances before making any financial decisions.