UK State Pension Rates 2026/27
The full new State Pension and full basic State Pension weekly rates, the triple lock that sets each April's increase, the deferral rules, and the qualifying-years rules that decide what you actually get.
State Pension weekly, 4-weekly and annual rates
These are the maximum rates from April 2026. Which scheme applies to you depends on when you reached (or will reach) State Pension age, not on how much National Insurance you paid.
| Scheme | Weekly | Every 4 weeks | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| New State Pension (full rate) | £241.30 | £965.20 | £12,548 |
| Basic State Pension (full rate) | £184.90 | £739.60 | £9,615 |
Figures verified against GOV.UK and DWP's own published rate tables (see Sources below). The annual figures are the weekly rate x 52, rounded to the nearest pound; the State Pension is normally paid every 4 weeks, not annually.
Which State Pension applies to you
| You are | Scheme | Full rate from April 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| A man born on or after 6 April 1951, or a woman born on or after 6 April 1953 | New State Pension | £241.30 |
| A man born before 6 April 1951, or a woman born before 6 April 1953 | Basic State Pension | £184.90 |
You cannot choose between the two schemes — it is fixed by your date of birth and sex. If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 you may also have Additional State Pension (SERPS or State Second Pension) on top of the basic amount, which is uprated separately by CPI rather than the triple lock.
The triple lock
Both the new and basic State Pension rise every April by whichever is highest of three measures:
- Average earnings growth — the ONS's whole-economy figure for May-July of the previous year
- Price inflation — the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) figure for the previous September
- 2.5% — a guaranteed minimum increase, whatever earnings and prices do
The triple lock has applied since April 2011. The Autumn Budget 2025 restated the government's commitment to keep it for the rest of this Parliament. For the 2026/27 up-rating, CPI was 3.8% and earnings growth was 4.8% — earnings growth was highest, so both pensions rose by 4.8%.
The April 2027 rate has not been announced
The government confirms next April's State Pension rates in a written ministerial statement, usually around the Autumn Budget, and Parliament then approves the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order. Nothing is in force until that Order is made.
April uprating history
The triple lock's three components for each April increase, and which one was actually used. In 2025/26 to 2026/27, earnings growth (4.8%) was highest; the exception is 2022, when earnings growth (8.6%, distorted by pandemic-era pay data) was excluded from the calculation by the government, so CPI (3.1%) was used instead.
| From April | CPI | Earnings growth | Minimum | Applied increase | New State Pension | Basic State Pension |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0.5% | -1% | 2.5% | 2.5% | £179.60 | £137.60 |
| 2022 | 3.1% | 8.6% | 2.5% | 3.1% | £185.15 | £141.85 |
| 2023 | 10.1% | 5.5% | 2.5% | 10.1% | £203.85 | £156.20 |
| 2024 | 6.7% | 8.5% | 2.5% | 8.5% | £221.20 | £169.50 |
| 2025 | 1.7% | 4.1% | 2.5% | 4.1% | £230.25 | £176.45 |
| 2026 | 3.8% | 4.8% | 2.5% | 4.8% | £241.30 | £184.90 |
CPI, earnings growth and minimum figures are the Triple Lock's own published components for each year's April up-rating (Government Actuary's Department, Report on the 2026 Up-rating Order, Table 3.3). Weekly rates are from DWP's yearly "Benefit and pension rates" publications. See Sources below.
Deferring your State Pension increases the amount
You do not have to claim your State Pension as soon as you reach State Pension age. Deferring — delaying your claim — increases your eventual weekly payments, but the rate differs by scheme.
| Scheme | Deferral rule | Approx. annual increase |
|---|---|---|
| New State Pension | Must defer at least 9 weeks | Just under 5.8% |
| Basic State Pension | 1% for every 5 weeks deferred | About 10.4% |
Deferring can affect other benefits you receive, and the extra amount you build up is not itself protected by the triple lock in the same way as the underlying pension. Check the official rules — and your own health, tax and cash-flow position — before deciding to defer.
Qualifying years — what actually decides your amount
The rates above are the maximum you can get. What you actually receive depends on your National Insurance record.
New State Pension
- You need at least 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension.
- You need 35 qualifying years for the full amount — fewer years give a proportional amount.
- A qualifying year counts if you worked and paid National Insurance, received National Insurance credits, or paid voluntary contributions. Years spent contracted out still count.
Basic State Pension
For the basic State Pension the qualifying-year requirement depends on your date of birth and sex:
- Men born between 1945 and 1951 usually need 30 qualifying years; men born before 1945 usually need 44.
- Women born between 1950 and 1953 usually need 30 qualifying years; women born before 1950 usually need 39.
- Fewer qualifying years give a proportional amount, subject to a minimum threshold.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the State Pension in 2026/27?
From April 2026 the full new State Pension is £241.30 a week (£965.20 every 4 weeks, about £12,548 a year). The full basic State Pension — for people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 — is £184.90 a week (£739.60 every 4 weeks, about £9,615 a year). Both are the maximum amount; what you actually get depends on your National Insurance record.
What is the difference between the new State Pension and the basic State Pension?
They are two different schemes for two different cohorts, not two tiers of the same scheme. You get the new State Pension if you are a man born on or after 6 April 1951 or a woman born on or after 6 April 1953. You get the basic State Pension (plus any Additional State Pension you built up) if you reached State Pension age before those dates. You cannot choose between them, and the amounts and qualifying rules differ.
What is the triple lock?
The triple lock is the rule that increases the basic and new State Pension every April by whichever is highest of: average earnings growth (May-July, whole economy, ONS), price inflation (the September CPI figure), or 2.5%. It has applied since April 2011, and the Autumn Budget 2025 restated the government's commitment to keep it for the rest of this Parliament.
How was the 2026/27 State Pension increase worked out?
For the 2026/27 up-rating, CPI to September 2025 was 3.8%, average earnings growth (May-July 2025) was 4.8%, and the guaranteed minimum was 2.5%. Earnings growth was the highest of the three, so both the new and basic State Pension rose by 4.8% — from £230.25 to £241.30 for the new State Pension.
How many qualifying years do I need for the full new State Pension?
You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions or credits for the full new State Pension, and at least 10 qualifying years to get any new State Pension at all. Below 35 years (and above the 10-year floor) you get a proportional amount. Years spent contracted out still count as qualifying years.
Does deferring the State Pension increase the amount?
Yes, for both schemes, but the rates differ. If you have the new State Pension, deferring for at least 9 weeks increases your eventual weekly payments by just under 5.8% for every year you delay claiming. If you have the basic State Pension, it increases by 1% for every 5 weeks you defer — equivalent to about 10.4% a year. Deferring can also affect other benefits, so check the official rules before deciding.
What will the State Pension be in April 2027?
It has not been announced. The government confirms the following April's rates in a written ministerial statement, typically around the Autumn Budget, and Parliament then approves the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order. Nothing is in force until that Order is made, so any figure quoted before then is an estimate, not a rate.
Sources
State Pension Calculator
Your own amount from your qualifying years
State Pension Age Calculator
Exactly when you reach State Pension age
State Pension Top-Up Calculator
Is paying voluntary Class 3 NI worth it?
Check State Pension Forecast
The official GOV.UK forecast service, explained
Claim State Pension Guide
State Pension is not automatic — how to claim it
Pension Credit Calculator
Top up a low income at State Pension age
Reflects State Pension rates in force from April 2026, verified against GOV.UK and DWP.
Related Calculators
State Pension Calculator
Project your UK State Pension based on NI qualifying years and the new flat-rate amount.
State Pension Age Calculator
Check exactly when you reach UK State Pension age based on your date of birth.
Claim State Pension Guide
Prepare the information and use the official online, phone, post or overseas claim route.