How does the State Pension work in 2026?
The State Pension is a regular payment from the government that you can claim once you reach State Pension age. There are currently two different State Pension schemes in operation in the UK, depending on when you were born — and knowing which one applies to you matters, because the amounts and rules are quite different.
The New State Pension (post-April 2016)
The new State Pension applies to men born on or after 6 April 1951 and women born on or after 6 April 1953. For 2026/27, the full new State Pension is worth £241.30 a week — approximately £12,547 a year.
To qualify for the full amount you need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits. If you have fewer than 35 years you will usually receive a proportionally smaller amount, and you need a minimum of 10 qualifying years to receive anything at all. Qualifying years can come from employment, self-employment, or NI credits — for example while claiming Child Benefit, caring for a disabled person, or receiving certain out-of-work benefits.
The Basic State Pension (pre-April 2016)
The old Basic State Pension applies to men born before 6 April 1951 and women born before 6 April 1953. The full Basic State Pension for 2026/27 is £176.45 a week — approximately £9,175 a year.
To receive the full Basic State Pension you generally needed 30 qualifying years of NI contributions. Those on the old scheme may also receive additional State Pension on top — such as SERPS (State Earnings Related Pension Scheme) or the State Second Pension (S2P) — depending on their employment history and whether they were contracted out. This can make the total amount significantly higher or lower than the headline figure.
If you are on the old scheme and are unsure exactly what you receive or are entitled to, the most reliable source is your own State Pension statement from the DWP, or the online forecast tool at gov.uk/check-state-pension.
When can you claim it?
State Pension age is currently 66 for those born before 6 April 1960, rising to 67 for those born between 6 April 1960 and 5 April 1977, and planned to rise to 68 for younger generations. Unlike a workplace pension, the State Pension does not start automatically — you have to claim it, usually via a letter you receive a few months before reaching State Pension age, or by applying online at gov.uk.
Should you defer?
If you don't need the income straight away, you can choose to defer claiming. Under the new State Pension, deferring increases your eventual payments by around 5.8% for every full year you delay. Under the old Basic State Pension the increase is higher — around 10.4% per year deferred. Whether deferring is worthwhile depends heavily on your health, other income sources, and how long you expect to live. Our State Pension Optimiser can model different deferral strategies for your own circumstances.
How to check your forecast
The quickest way to find your exact entitlement is the free online forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension, which shows your NI record and predicted weekly amount. You can also request a statement by post or call the Future Pension Centre on 0800 731 0175. It is well worth checking — many people are surprised by their actual entitlement, either positively or negatively.