The State Pension: what it gives you, and what it doesn't

The full new State Pension pays around £11,973 a year (2026/27, source: gov.uk). You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions for the full amount, and at least 10 years to get anything. The age you can claim it is currently 66, rising to 67 by 2028 — and it's reviewed periodically.

Against the PLSA Retirement Living Standards, the full State Pension on its own covers most of the "Minimum" lifestyle for a single person. It won't reach "Moderate" and it's a long way from "Comfortable". For most people the State Pension is the floor, not the plan.

The five-minute job worth doing this week: get your personal forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension. It shows your projected amount, your National Insurance record, and any gaps you could fill. Bring it to any conversation with an adviser — it's one of the first things they'll want to see.