State Pension Forecast Helper
How it works
The New State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age after 6 April 2016) needs 35 qualifying NI years for the full amount and at least 10 for any pension at all. You earn qualifying years by working and paying NI, claiming benefits with NI credits, or paying voluntary contributions.
Class 3 voluntary NI for 2025/26 costs £907.40 for one year and adds about £342/year to your pension — paying for itself in roughly 3 years. Class 2 (self-employed) is far cheaper at ~£179.40/year.
Worked example
Tom is 55 with 28 qualifying years. He's stopping work.
- Without topping up: 28/35 × £230.25 = £184.20/week (£9,578/year)
- If he buys 7 years of Class 3 (~£6,352): full £230.25/week (£11,973/year)
- Extra £2,395/year for life — break-even ~2.7 years
Who should use this
- •Anyone within 10 years of State Pension age
- •People with career breaks or time abroad
- •Self-employed checking their record
- •Carers eligible for free NI credits
- •Expats deciding whether to pay voluntary NI
Common mistakes
- ×Buying NI without calling the Future Pension Centre first (some pre-2016 years won't help)
- ×Forgetting free credits — Carer's Credit, Specified Adult Childcare Credit, Universal Credit
- ×Self-employed missing Class 2 contributions
- ×Assuming a long career = full pension (contracting out can have reduced amounts)
Frequently asked questions
How much is the full State Pension?▾
£230.25/week (£11,973/year) for the New State Pension in 2025/26.
When is State Pension age?▾
Currently 66, rising to 67 between 2026-2028 and 68 from 2044.
Should I defer my State Pension?▾
Each 9 weeks of deferral adds 1% to your weekly amount. Worth it only if you have other income and expect to live long enough to break even (around 17 years).
Is the State Pension taxable?▾
Yes — it counts as income for Income Tax purposes.
Will the triple lock survive?▾
Currently in place — increases by the higher of CPI, earnings, or 2.5%. Future governments may change it.
Can my spouse inherit my State Pension?▾
Limited inheritance under the New State Pension. Generally only some Protected Payment can be inherited.