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State Pension Forecast Calculator

Updated October 2026Estimate from your NI qualifying yearsFree · No signup
Your National Insurance record
Check your exact figure on gov.uk's "Check your State Pension forecast" service — it shows every qualifying year on your record.
Each year you pay enough National Insurance, or receive NI credits (Child Benefit, certain benefits, caring), usually counts. If unsure, use your remaining years until State Pension age.
No / not sure
Yes
If yes, you'll usually need more than 35 years for the full rate — this estimate won't reflect that, so check your real gov.uk forecast instead.
About this calculator ▼

This calculator uses the confirmed 2026/27 full new State Pension rate of £241.30/week (£12,547.60/year), paid in full at 35 qualifying years, with a minimum of 10 qualifying years required for any payment. Each qualifying year between 10 and 35 adds roughly £6.89/week.

It is a simplified estimate based on qualifying years alone and does not account for being contracted out, protected payments, or the exact detail of your NI record — always check your real forecast on gov.uk for the authoritative figure.

Estimated State Pension
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How the State Pension is actually calculated ▼

The new State Pension is built entirely on qualifying years of National Insurance — tax years in which you either paid enough NI, or received NI credits without paying, for example while claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12, certain other benefits, or as a carer. You need a minimum of 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension at all, and 35 qualifying years to get the full rate.

Between 10 and 35 years, you get a proportional amount: each qualifying year is worth roughly one thirty-fifth of the full rate, about £6.89 a week at 2026/27 rates. Someone with 25 qualifying years, for example, would be on track for roughly 25/35 of the full rate — about £172.36 a week rather than the full £241.30.

Why your real forecast might differ from this estimate ▼

This calculator gives a simplified estimate based purely on qualifying years. Your real State Pension amount can differ for a few reasons. If you were contracted out of the Additional State Pension at any point before April 2016 — common for many workplace pension scheme members at the time — you will usually need more than 35 qualifying years to reach the full rate, and a flat deduction applies to reflect the lower NI you paid during those years.

If you built up Additional State Pension (SERPS or State Second Pension) before 2016 and it would have given you more than the full new State Pension under the old rules, you keep that extra amount as a "protected payment" on top of the full rate. Neither of these adjustments is reflected in this simplified estimate, which is why gov.uk's own "Check your State Pension forecast" service, using your actual full NI record, is always the authoritative figure.

What to do if your forecast shows a shortfall ▼

If this estimate (or your real gov.uk forecast) shows you're projected to fall short of the full 35 qualifying years, there are usually three routes to close the gap. First, check whether you're missing any NI credits you're entitled to but haven't claimed — Child Benefit for a child under 12, certain benefits, or caring responsibilities can all generate free qualifying years. Second, if you're still working, continuing to pay NI through employment or self-employment naturally adds qualifying years each year. Third, you can pay voluntary Class 2 or Class 3 contributions to fill specific past gap years, provided they fall within the normal six-year window.

Use our NI Gap Checker to see whether you're on track, and the Voluntary NI Calculator to work out whether paying to fill a specific gap year is worth it for your situation.

Frequently asked questions
How much State Pension will I get?▼
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week (£12,547.60 a year) in 2026/27. You need 35 qualifying years for the full amount, and at least 10 to get anything. Between 10 and 35 years, you get a proportional amount — roughly £6.89 a week per qualifying year.
What counts as a qualifying year?▼
A tax year in which you paid enough National Insurance, or received NI credits without paying — for example while claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12, certain other benefits, or as a carer. You don't need to have worked every year to get credits.
What if I have fewer than 10 qualifying years?▼
With fewer than 10 qualifying years you generally won't get any new State Pension at all. If you're some way from State Pension age, there's usually time to build up more years through work, NI credits, or voluntary contributions.
Does this forecast account for being contracted out before 2016?▼
No. If you were contracted out of the Additional State Pension before April 2016, you'll usually need more than 35 qualifying years for the full rate, and this simplified estimate won't reflect that. Check your real forecast on gov.uk for an exact figure.
How accurate is this compared to my real gov.uk forecast?▼
This is a simplified estimate based on qualifying years alone. Your official gov.uk forecast also accounts for contracted-out periods, protected payments, and your exact NI record, so always treat it as the authoritative figure.
Est. weekly
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