How to claim the basic State Pension and how it's calculated - for men born before 6 April 1951 and women born before 6 April 1953.

Twenty-eight qualifying years gets you 80% of the full new state pension — roughly £193 per week or £10,038 a year at 2026/27 rates. You are just 7 years short of the full entitlement. Those missing years represent approximately £2,513 a year in lost pension income for life.

This provides personalised information, including your State Pension age, an estimate of how much State Pension you may get at that point and if you can increase this amount.

With 28 qualifying years of National Insurance, your State Pension for 2026/27 depends on which scheme applies based on date of birth. Men born on or after 6 April 1951 and women born on or after 6 April 1953 use the new State Pension; older claimants use the basic scheme.

To get the full new State Pension (currently £241.30 a week), you'll likely need at least 35 qualifying NI years (though some will need many more). Crucially, you don't have to start from scratch from 6 April 2016 – any qualifying years earned before this date will count along with later years.

Calculate your State Pension amount based on qualifying years. Free calculator using official 2026/27 rates.

Complete guide to State Pension qualifying years. Learn what counts, how to build them up, and how they convert to pension amounts.

Qualifying Years: You need a minimum of 10 qualifying years of NI contributions to receive any State Pension. To receive the full amount of a New State Pension, you will need 35 qualifying years.

Estimate your State Pension entitlement based on your National Insurance contribution record. Plan effectively for your retirement with our accurate calculator. The State Pension is the foundation of retirement income for most people in the UK.

The mechanic is straightforward: every qualifying year earns you 1/35th of the full New State Pension. Twenty-eight qualifying years gets you 28/35 of £241.30, or roughly £193.04 per week. 35 qualifying years caps you at the full £241.30, additional years beyond 35 do not increase your State Pension.