UK State Pension Calculator
Project your weekly and annual payout under the new UK State Pension based on your National Insurance qualifying years.
Calculate your projected new UK State Pension. Check weekly, monthly, and annual pension income based on your National Insurance qualifying years.
See also: NHS Take-Home Pay Calculator, Holiday Pay Calculator (UK), Child Maintenance Calculator
How it is calculated
Weekly Pension = (Qualifying NI Years ÷ 35) × Full State Pension (£221.20/week; minimum 10 years required)
Worked example: Individual with 28 Qualifying NI Years at State Pension Age
28 qualifying NI years achieved on check-state-pension record out of 35 required.
- Check 10-year rule: 28 years is greater than 10 years minimum, so qualifying status is met.
- Calculate proportional fraction: 28 ÷ 35 = 0.80 (80% of full entitlement).
- Multiply by full weekly rate (£221.20): 0.80 × £221.20 = £176.96 per week.
- Multiply across 52 weeks: £176.96 × 52 = £9,201.92 per year.
- Calculate shortfall to full rate: £11,502.40 − £9,201.92 = £2,300.48 annual difference.
Weekly pension of £176.96 (£9,201.92 per year).
How to Use This Calculator (Step-by-Step)
- Check your current qualifying years on your official GOV.UK National Insurance record.
- Enter your total full qualifying years into the calculator.
- Input your current age and your statutory State Pension retirement age.
- Review your shortfall and consider whether voluntary Class 3 NI contributions are cost-effective to buy back missing years.
Frequently asked questions
What is the triple lock on the UK State Pension?
The triple lock guarantees that the UK State Pension increases each April by the highest of: average UK wage growth, CPI inflation, or 2.5%.
Can I pay voluntary Class 3 NI contributions to fill gaps?
Yes. Individuals can often buy back missing National Insurance years from the past 6 tax years via HMRC to increase their permanent State Pension payout.
What happens if I have fewer than 10 qualifying years?
The input helper states that 10 years is the minimum for any payout, so with fewer than 10 qualifying years the formula gives no State Pension entitlement. The 35-year figure is what buys the full rate, not the minimum.
How do I find my qualifying years?
Check your current qualifying years on your official GOV.UK National Insurance record, as the how-to steps direct, and enter that total. The calculator works from the years you enter, so an accurate record gives an accurate projection.
Which State Pension age should I select?
The options are age 66 as the current standard, age 67 for those born after April 1960, and age 68 as a proposed future tier. Select the age that matches your own statutory retirement age.
Does the result include future triple lock increases?
No. The formula multiplies your qualifying-years fraction by the fixed full weekly rate of 221.20 pounds used on this page, so future annual increases under the triple lock are not projected in the result.