State pension rates for 2025/26
The full new state pension for the 2025/26 tax year is 230.25 pounds per week, which works out to approximately 11,973 pounds per year. This rate applies to people who reached state pension age on or after 6 April 2016 and who have a full National Insurance contribution record of 35 qualifying years.
If you reached state pension age before 6 April 2016, you receive the basic state pension, which is currently 176.45 pounds per week (approximately 9,175 per year). You may also receive additional state pension built up through SERPS or the State Second Pension, which can increase your total entitlement significantly.
The state pension increased by 4.1 percent in April 2025 under the triple lock mechanism, which guarantees annual rises in line with the highest of average earnings growth, CPI inflation, or 2.5 percent.
When can you claim the state pension?
The state pension age is currently 66 for both men and women. It is scheduled to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, with the exact date depending on your date of birth. A further increase to 68 is planned, though the timing has been subject to review and may be brought forward from its originally scheduled date of 2044-2046.
You can check your personal state pension age using the government's online tool at gov.uk. It is important to know your state pension age so you can plan how to fund any gap between when you stop working and when you start receiving the state pension.
Can you defer the state pension?
You do not have to claim your state pension as soon as you reach state pension age. If you defer, your state pension increases by 1 percent for every nine weeks you defer, equivalent to approximately 5.8 percent per year. This can be a useful strategy if you are still working and would pay higher-rate tax on your state pension income, or if you want to increase your guaranteed income for later in retirement.
However, deferral is not always the best option. You need to live long enough to recoup the pension payments you gave up during the deferral period. As a rough guide, it takes around 17 years of receiving the increased pension to break even compared with taking it at state pension age.
How to check your state pension forecast
You can check your state pension forecast online through the government's Check Your State Pension service on gov.uk. This will show you how much state pension you are currently entitled to, the date you can claim it, and how you could increase your entitlement. You will need a Government Gateway account to access this service.
Your forecast will show you how many qualifying years of National Insurance contributions you have, how many more years you need to qualify for the full state pension, and any gaps in your record that you might be able to fill.
How to maximise your state pension
Check for gaps in your National Insurance record
You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions to receive the full new state pension, and at least 10 qualifying years to receive anything at all. If you have gaps in your record due to periods of unemployment, low earnings, or time spent abroad, you may be able to fill them by making voluntary National Insurance contributions.
You can currently fill gaps going back to the 2006/07 tax year, though this deadline may change. The cost of filling gaps is typically 824.20 pounds per year for Class 3 voluntary contributions, and each year filled adds approximately 342 pounds per year to your state pension. This represents an excellent return on investment for most people.
National Insurance credits
You may be eligible for National Insurance credits that count towards your state pension record even if you are not working or not earning enough to pay National Insurance. Credits are available for periods when you are claiming certain benefits, caring for a child under 12 (through Child Benefit), or providing care for a disabled person.
Grandparents who provide childcare while the parent works can apply for Specified Adult Childcare Credits, transferring the NI credit from the parent to the grandparent. This is a valuable but underused benefit that could boost a grandparent's state pension entitlement.
Marriage and civil partnership
If your spouse or civil partner has died, you may be able to inherit some of their state pension entitlement. Under the old system, you could inherit up to 50 percent of their additional state pension. Under the new system, you may be able to inherit a protected payment if your partner had built up entitlement above the full new state pension amount.
State pension and tax
The state pension is taxable income, although it is paid without tax being deducted. If the state pension is your only income, it falls within the personal allowance (12,570 pounds for 2025/26) and you would not pay tax on it. However, if you have other income such as a private pension, earnings, or investment income, your state pension could push your total income into a taxable bracket.
Your tax code is adjusted to collect any tax due on your state pension through your other income sources. This can sometimes cause confusion when people start receiving their state pension and find that their private pension income is being taxed more heavily.
State pension and means-tested benefits
The state pension counts as income for means-tested benefits including Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Support. If you are on a low income, Pension Credit can top up your weekly income to 218.15 pounds for a single person or 332.95 pounds for a couple. Pension Credit also acts as a gateway to other benefits including help with council tax, housing costs, NHS dental treatment, and the Warm Home Discount.
Planning around the state pension
The state pension provides a valuable foundation of guaranteed, inflation-linked income in retirement, but for most people it will not be enough on its own to maintain their desired standard of living. Understanding your state pension entitlement is an essential first step in retirement planning, as it determines how much additional income your private pensions and savings need to generate.
A pension adviser can help you understand how your state pension fits into your overall retirement income strategy, including the optimal timing for claiming and how to coordinate it with private pension withdrawals for tax efficiency.
The bottom line
The state pension is a valuable benefit that provides a guaranteed, inflation-protected income for life. Take the time to check your forecast, fill any gaps in your National Insurance record, and understand how the state pension fits into your broader retirement plan. If you need help putting together a comprehensive retirement strategy, a pension adviser can provide personalised guidance based on your specific circumstances.