How the State Pension Works in the UK

Category Active well-being for seniors

How the State Pension Works in the UK

The State Pension is a regular payment from the UK government that provides a baseline of income in retirement. The age at which you can receive it is known as the State Pension age, which is currently 66 for both men and women. This age is expected to rise in the future, so it is important to check your personal State Pension age using the official government website.

There are two types of State Pension systems in operation:

The new State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016)
The basic State Pension (for those who reached State Pension age before this date)

Which system applies to you depends on your date of birth and when you become eligible to claim.

New State Pension vs Basic State Pension: Key Differences

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Your State Pension amount is based primarily on the number of qualifying years of National Insurance (NI) contributions you have built up. This may come from:

- Paying NI while working
- Receiving NI credits while claiming certain benefits
- Making voluntary NI contributions to fill gaps

Below is a comparison of the two State Pension systems, their rates and contribution requirements:

Type of State Pension	Who Qualifies	Full Weekly Rate (2025/26)	NI Years Required for Full Amount
Basic State Pension	Reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016	£176.45 per week	30 qualifying years
New State Pension	Reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016	£230.25 per week	35 qualifying years

If you have fewer qualifying years than required, you will receive a proportionate amount.
For example, under the new State Pension, 20 qualifying years would give 20/35ths of the full weekly rate.

How to Check and Increase Your State Pension

You can request a free State Pension forecast from the Future Pension Centre, which shows:

- How much State Pension you are likely to receive
- Whether you have gaps in your NI record
-W hether voluntary NI contributions could increase your pension

If you have less than 35 NI years, you may be able to buy voluntary NI contributions, which can increase your future payments.

How to Claim Your State Pension

You will not receive your State Pension automatically. You must make a claim.

You can claim: Online (up to 3 months before reaching State Pension age), By phone, By post.

If you live abroad, you must claim through the International Pension Centre.

Some people choose to defer their State Pension.
Deferring can increase your pension amount:

Around 5% extra per year under the new State Pension system
Around 10% per year under the basic State Pension system

However, deferring may affect benefits eligibility, so it is important to get guidance before deciding.

FAQ: State Pension (Optimised for Search Engines)

What is the State Pension age in the UK?

The State Pension age is currently 66, but it is scheduled to rise. You should check your personalised age on the government website.

How many years of NI contributions do I need for a full State Pension?

You usually need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension, or 30 years for the basic State Pension.

Can I use my spouse’s National Insurance record to increase my State Pension?

Under the basic State Pension, some people may increase their pension based on a spouse or civil partner’s NI record. This does not apply to most new State Pension claims.

How can I increase my State Pension amount?

You may be able to pay voluntary NI contributions or defer your State Pension to receive a higher weekly payment.

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