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Useful next calculations
Rates & sources2026/27
The 2026/27 full new State Pension rate. This calculator gives only a qualifying-years illustration, not a personal DWP forecast.
| Band / figure | Rate |
|---|---|
| Full new State Pension | £241.30/week |
| Annual equivalent | £12,547.60 (52 weeks) |
| Personal entitlement | check DWP forecast |
Source: DWP — Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 — source checked for 2026/27.
When to use this calculator
- Before choosing between saving, investing or changing a contribution.
- When you want to compare cautious, base and optimistic return assumptions.
- When you need a projection before making a longer-term decision.
- When you want to see whether starting earlier or contributing more changes the outcome more.
A realistic UK planning example
Use these sample inputs as a quick scenario test, then change one variable at a time to compare outcomes.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Qualifying National Insurance Years | 10 years |
| Your Current Age | 35 |
| Age used for NI-years projection | 66 (State Pension age) |
After entering these figures, review current weekly pension, current annual and projected weekly at retirement together rather than in isolation. Then rerun the tool with one input adjusted.
How to read your results
Current Weekly Pension
The figure produced by this output for the inputs you entered. Change one variable at a time if you want to see what drives it.
Current Annual
The figure produced by this output for the inputs you entered. Change one variable at a time if you want to see what drives it.
Projected Weekly at Retirement
The figure produced by this output for the inputs you entered. Change one variable at a time if you want to see what drives it.
Projected Annual
The figure produced by this output for the inputs you entered. Change one variable at a time if you want to see what drives it.
NI Years Still Needed
The figure produced by this output for the inputs you entered. Change one variable at a time if you want to see what drives it.
Method & assumptionsAuthoritative sources
This planning tool uses the full new State Pension rate of £241.30 a week for 2026/27. It illustrates a simple proportion based on the qualifying years entered, with a ten-year minimum and a 35-year reference point. It assumes a qualifying year is added for every year until the projection age selected.
This is not a State Pension forecast. DWP uses your actual National Insurance record and transitional rules; contracting-out, credits, gaps, deferral and future annual uprating can all affect the result. The selected age does not model an early claim or a deferral increase. Check your personalised forecast on GOV.UK before making a retirement or voluntary-contribution decision.
Common mistakes
- !Assuming a constant return without checking a more conservative growth rate.
- !Forgetting ongoing contributions, fees or tax wrappers where relevant.
- !Focusing only on the final balance instead of the path required to reach it.
- !Ignoring the drag of charges over a long period.
What to do next
- Test a cautious, expected and optimistic growth rate.
- Compare this result with related savings or retirement tools before committing more money.
- Consider charges and any tax wrapper that applies.
- If the projected balance falls short, increase the contribution until the result meets your goal.
Frequently asked
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