New State Pension: weekly rate and qualifying years, 2026–27
The full new State Pension rate is a published weekly amount, not a promise of an individual award. The National Insurance record and transitional history affect entitlement.
- Full new State Pension
- £241.30 per week for 2026–27.
- Minimum qualifying record
- Normally 10 qualifying years; exceptions can apply.DWP, New State Pension eligibility
- Full-rate qualifying record
- 35 qualifying years if the National Insurance record started after April 2016.DWP, New State Pension
The published weekly amount
The Department for Work and Pensions publishes the full new State Pension rate as £241.30 a week for 2026–27. The confirmed rates table records the annual uprating; this guide does not project a future rate. DWP, Benefit and pension rates (opens in a new tab).
The full new State Pension and old basic State Pension are separate entries in the DWP table. A full-rate figure is not an estimate of an individual’s award. DWP, Benefit and pension rates (opens in a new tab).
Qualifying years
Normally, 10 qualifying years on the National Insurance record are needed for any new State Pension. Overseas history or reduced-rate contributions for married women can bring different rules. DWP, New State Pension eligibility (opens in a new tab).
Qualifying years can arise from contributions, National Insurance credits or voluntary contributions. DWP, New State Pension eligibility (opens in a new tab).
A record starting after April 2016 needs 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension. Contracting out before 2016 can mean more years are needed; the same simple count cannot be applied to every record. DWP, New State Pension (opens in a new tab).
Individual awards and scope
Pre-2016 Additional State Pension can produce a protected payment above the full new State Pension. DWP’s forecast service reports the individual record and prospective amount. DWP, New State Pension (opens in a new tab).
This is general information adapted from DWP material under the Open Government Licence v3.0, without endorsement. There is no matching UK State Pension calculator here, no personal award calculation and no recommendation about voluntary contributions or claiming dates. DWP, Benefit and pension rates (opens in a new tab).