How much state pension will I get at 66?

If you're nearing UK retirement age, one of the questions you'll be asking yourself will be: How much state pension will I get at 66? Understanding how much state pension you will receive helps you plan effectively for retirement.

State pension age is currently age 66 for both men and women born on or after 6th October 1954. However, this will rise to age 67 between April 2026 and April 2028.

The latest increase applies to those born on or after 6th April 1960.

The government plans to raise the age to 68 between April 2044 and April 2046, affecting those born on or after 6th April 1977. 

The increases are part of phased increases in the state pension age, as set out in the Pensions Act 2014. The Act requires regular reviews of the State Pension age; the latest review was in March 2023. 

What is the state pension?

The state pension is a regular payment from the UK government, and the payments help to support people during their retirement.

When you reach the state pension age, which is currently age 66 (rising to 67 from 2026), you can claim your state pension.

It is not possible to claim early. However, you can choose to defer and receive an increased pension later.

The amount of state pension you are entitled to is dependent on several factors, the main thing being the amount of qualifying National Insurance (NI) contributions you've built up.

How much is the state pension 2025-2026?

Your state pension income depends on whether you are eligible for the new state pension or the basic state pension.

New state pension

The full new state pension is £230.25 per week, totalling £11,973 annually. It applies to men born on or after 6th April 1951 or women born on or after 6th April 1953.

The full amount depends on having 35 years of qualifying NI contributions.

You can claim the new state pension, providing you have 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record. If you have less than 35 qualifying years, you'll get a reduced amount and only a proportion of the new state pension.

Basic state pension

The full basic state pension is £176.45 per week, or £9,175.40 annually. It applies to men born before 6th April 1951 or women born before 6th April 1953.

The full amount depends on you having at least 30 years of qualifying NI contributions.

Again, if you have fewer than the required number of qualifying years, you'll get a reduced amount and only a proportion of the basic state pension.

Can you increase your state pension?

Suppose you suspect that you may have gaps and want to know how much state pension will I get at 66; you may need to take action well before reaching retirement age.

You may be able to make voluntary NI contributions to fill any gaps.

However, from 6th April 2025, the rules regarding making voluntary NI contributions changed and will only be possible for the previous six financial years.

So, any gaps before 2019 will negatively affect your state pension entitlement calculation.

Of course, if you're fit, healthy and able to work longer than the state retirement age. You can defer claiming your state pension, which should increase your pension entitlement by around 5.8% per year.

 Working longer also enables you to earn extra qualifying years.

How much state pension will I get at 66? How to check!

So how do you check how much state pension will I get at 66? The government has a digital online service for checking your NI records and state pension forecast.

The website address to go to is https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Most people prefer to use the online service these days. Simply log in to the UK Government Gateway. You will need a 12-digit government gateway ID.

Ensure you register to get one if you do not have this ID. An email address is also required, which you will need to verify.

Also, as part of the verification process, you must provide ID such as a valid UK passport and/or a current driving license.

Once registered and logged in, you can check your state pension forecast. You can see many statistics about your state pension.

Such as how much you'll get, when you'll get it, your qualifying years, and ways to increase it. You should be able to identify any issues that may need addressing quickly.

It is all comprehensive and easy to use!

Details are also available via the HMRC app and logging into your personal tax account. You can also contact the DWP Pensions Service or the Future Pension Centre to check your information.

Annual increases to the UK state pension

If you are a few years away from state pension age, check annually for updated state pension amounts. 

Every April, the state pension increases under the government guarantee called the 'triple lock'. The guarantee means an annual increase of at least 2.5%, but could be more than 2.5% if inflation or average earnings growth are higher.

This year, for example, the state pension increased by 4.1%, which aligns with average earnings growth. The increase relates to the highest of the three triple lock measures, and this year, it is average earnings growth.

The actual figures used to calculate the state pension increases are average earnings growth from the previous May to July or the CPI measure of inflation from the previous September.

If earnings growth or inflation is lower, the guaranteed 2.5% increase applies.

Ways to claim your state pension at 66

Your state pension payments don't automatically start when you reach state pension age. And you need to actively submit a claim.

You will receive a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) explaining how to claim. This letter should arrive around four months before you reach state pension age.

Claiming by post

You should receive a form with your DWP letter. Just complete the form and send it back. If you do not receive the form, you will have to call the Pension Service on 0800 731 7898 and request it.

Claiming by telephone

You can also make your claim by calling the Pension Service and providing them with the relevant information.

Claiming online

You can apply online via the government website www.gov.uk/get-state-pension. Just follow the instructions and complete the required information.

Final thoughts

Regardless of your financial situation, asking how much state pension will I get at 66 is an important part of your overall retirement planning.

Failing to check their state pension entitlement leaves many receiving less than the full £11,973 per year due to incomplete NI records.

So, take a little time and check your NI record and get a state pension forecast in advance. Keeping informed and prepared should avoid any unpleasant surprises when it comes to claiming your well-earned state pension.

For most, the state pension is just a small part of planning a comfortable retirement. Many now have multiple personal or defined contribution pensions built up over the years.

Let Regulated Advice match you with a financial advisor for expert advice.