The new State Pension isn't paid automatically once you reach a certain age — it depends on how many qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits you've built up over your working life, on top of reaching State Pension age.
A qualifying year is a tax year in which you paid, or were credited with, enough National Insurance — through work, certain benefits, or caring responsibilities. You need 35 qualifying years in total (not necessarily consecutive) for the full new State Pension, currently £241.30 a week for 2026/27. With between 10 and 35 qualifying years, you receive a proportional amount; below 10 qualifying years, you don't qualify for any new State Pension at all.
Use the State Pension Calculator on this site to see how many qualifying years you likely have and estimate your weekly amount.
State Pension age is currently 66, rising to 67 between 2026 and 2028 for people born after 5 April 1960 — it's separate from your qualifying years and applies regardless of how many you've built up. Check your exact State Pension age on gov.uk, since it depends on your specific date of birth.
If you have gaps — years spent abroad, unemployed without credits, or self-employed with low profits — you may be able to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill them and increase your eventual State Pension, within specific time limits set by HMRC.
Informational content, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Verify amounts, limits, and current conditions directly with official sources (HMRC, FCA, FSCS) before making a decision.
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