The new State Pension is a regular payment from the government when you reach State Pension age. For the 2026/27 tax year (from April 2026), the full new State Pension is £241.30 per week — this rises most years via the 'triple lock', so always check gov.uk for the current figure rather than relying on a number you saw last year.
How to qualify
You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions for the full amount. You need at least 10 qualifying years to receive anything at all. You can check your NI record and forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension.
The basic State Pension is a different, older system
If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, you're on the older 'basic' State Pension system rather than the new one — the full basic State Pension is £184.90 per week for 2026/27, worked out differently (based on qualifying years, potentially with an additional pension on top) rather than the new system's flat rate.
State Pension age
Currently 66 for both men and women, rising to 67 between 2026 and 2028. Check your exact State Pension age at gov.uk/state-pension-age, since it depends on your date of birth.
Deferring the State Pension
Every 9 weeks you defer increases your weekly State Pension by 1%. Deferring for a full year increases it by approximately 5.8%.
Pension Credit — worth checking even if you think you don't qualify
Pension Credit is a separate, means-tested top-up for pensioners on lower incomes — it tops up a single person's income to at least £238 per week and a couple's to £363.25 per week for 2026/27. It's genuinely underclaimed: an estimated 4 in 10 eligible households don't apply, often because they assume a small private pension or modest savings rules them out. It's worth checking even if you're unsure, since claiming Pension Credit — even a small weekly amount — acts as a 'gateway' unlocking other help including Council Tax Reduction and help with NHS costs. Check eligibility at gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator.