Overview
The UK State Pension is a regular payment made by the government to individuals who have reached the State Pension age and have made sufficient National Insurance (NI) contributions during their working lives. The maximum amount of the State Pension is £241.30 per week in the tax year 2026-27.
The state pension age is the earliest age at which you can start receiving your State Pension. Currently this age is 66 for both men and women. It is scheduled to gradually increase; the government are planning to raise it to 67 between 2026 and 2028. A further increase to age 68 is also planned between 2044 to 2046.
This advice includes details covering what makes you eligible for the State Pension, checking your eligibility, and claiming it when the time comes. We also cover voluntary NI payments, and when you may want to pay voluntarily.
It is beneficial to know how you can save for your pension in a way that maximises your income tax relief, and we set out how it works and the relevant limits.
You do not necessarily need to wait until State Pension age to start drawing a pension, and our advice also covers the minimum pension age.
