How much is the state pension, and what age will I get it?

The UK government provides a state pension to all eligible people, once they reach the state pension age.

But not everyone gets the same amount, so it’s important to find out where you stand.

We reveal what the state pension is and how much you might be entitled to.

What is the state pension?

The UK's new state pension is paid weekly to everyone who qualifies.

Read on to find out how to qualify, how much you could get and when you can claim it.

How many qualifying years do I need for the new state pension?

To be eligible for the state pension you’ll need 35 qualifying years of national insurance contributions.

If you have less than 35 qualifying years, but more than 10, you’ll get a reduced payment based on your NI record.

If you have less than 10 qualifying years on your NI record, you won’t receive any state pension.

A qualifying year means a year in which you earn over the lower earnings limit as a salary (dividends don't count).

It’s also worth flagging that you can get NI credits even if you don’t pay NI from earnings, if you meet certain criteria.

You may be entitled to NI credits, if you were claiming benefits because you were:

• Looking for work

• Ill, disabled or on sick pay

• On maternity (or other parental) pay

• Caring for children or other family members

Do I need to pay national insurance contributions to qualify for the state pension?

To build up qualifying NI years, your annual salary must be at or over the lower earnings limit (£6,708 in the 2026/27 tax year).

However, you don’t start paying national insurance contributions (NICs) until you take a salary over the NIC primary threshold (currently £12,570).

So, if your salary falls between these two figures, you’ll build up qualifying years without paying any NI.

For this reason, some company directors deliberately set their salaries at a low level, and take the rest of their income as dividends.

How much is the state pension in the UK?

If you qualify for the full amount of the new state pension, you will receive £241.30 per week, or £12,547 a year (in the 2026/27 tax year).

Each year, the state pension increases in line with the highest of -  inflation, average earnings or 2.5%. This is known as the 'triple lock.'

If you have fewer than 35 qualifying years, the amount you receive will be reduced proportionally.

If you reached the state pension age before 6 April 2016, you will receive the old state pension instead, which is a different amount.

At what age do I get my state pension?

Your state pension age depends on your date of birth.

From 6 April 2026, the state pension age started increasing from 66 to 67 for men and women - a process that will take two years to complete. This is affecting people born after 5 April 1960.

The next increase to age 68 is scheduled for 2044-2046, affecting those born after 5 April 1977.  However, this increase could, potentially, be hastened by the third state pension age review, which is currently in process.

You can check your state pension age on the government’s website.

Can I still work and claim the state pension?

Yes, you can carry on working and earning once you’ve passed state pension age and begun to draw your pension, but you’ll no longer pay NI after this point.

Just remember the state pension still counts as income, so it could be subject to tax depending on how much other income you continue to earn.

How much can I earn while taking the state pension?

You can earn as much as you like and continue to qualify for the state pension.

However, you will pay tax on any income above the annual personal allowance.

For example, the full new state pension gives you an annual income of £12,547.

The personal allowance is £12,570, leaving only £23 a year before you have to pay tax.

If you were to earn £10,000 a year while drawing the state pension, your taxable income would be £9,977, and you’d have a tax bill of £1,995.40. However, you wouldn’t pay any NI contributions.

If you’re still earning and drawing the state pension, talk to a financial adviser who may be able to help you structure your income in a more tax effective way.

Is there a special state pension for married couples?

There are no longer any special state pension arrangements for married couples.

Each partner in the marriage or civil partnership needs to build up their own state pension through qualifying years and cannot benefit from their spouse’s state pension, which will cease when that person dies.

If someone does not work because they are caring for children aged under 12 and are registered for child benefit (even if they don’t receive it), then they can accrue Class 3 NI credits for these years.

These credits will build up qualifying years for the state pension.

Alternatively, anyone who isn’t employed can pay voluntary NI contributions to build up qualifying years.

What happens to my state pension if I move abroad?

If you live abroad or are planning to move abroad and want to claim the state pension, you’ll need to contact the International Pension Centre.

You can then arrange for your state pension to be paid directly into a bank account, either located in the UK or in the country where you’re living now.

You can choose to be paid every four or 13 weeks.

Warning: If you emigrate to a country that’s not in the European Economic Area, and doesn’t have a reciprocal agreement with the UK, you won’t qualify for future state pension increases. Instead your state pension will remain frozen at the level you received when you first moved abroad.

Countries where your state pension will be frozen include:

• Australia

• Canada

• New Zealand

• South Africa

Should I wait before taking my state pension?

You don’t have to take your state pension as soon as you’re eligible.

If you defer your state pension, the amount you’re entitled to will gradually rise.

For every nine weeks you defer, you'll receive a 1% uptick. Over the course of a year, the rise comes in at just under 5.8%.

If you reached state pension age before 6 April 2016 and defer, you’ll receive a different boost.

You might choose to do this if you are still working and don't want to lose state pension money in tax.

However, this is something to discuss with your financial adviser, as it may still be in your best interests to take the money and bank it (or invest it) even if you don’t need to spend it yet.

Your health will be an important part of the decision; if you die before you’ve had a chance to recoup the income you gave up, you won’t get any benefit from deferring.

According to analysis from Royal London, an individual that deferred their state pension by one year, would need to live until age 82 to recoup the income you gave up. If you pay higher rate tax that drops to 79.

Try our pension calculator below to see how much retirement income you might receive from your private pension and what you can do to boost it.

Get expert financial advice

The state pension provides a valuable income stream for retirees, but it's essential to plan and understand how it fits into your broader retirement strategy.

With eligibility based on national insurance contributions and the possibility of deferring to increase your future payments, it's crucial to stay informed.

Unbiased can match you with a financial adviser who can provide expert financial advice so that you can make informed decisions about your state pension and overall retirement planning.