How many qualifying years do you need?
Two numbers decide your State Pension. Thirty-five gets you the full rate. Ten is the point below which you get nothing at all.
You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance for the full new State Pension and at least 10 years to receive anything. Between the two, the amount is worked out pro rata. Working, claiming Child Benefit and caring can all create a qualifying year.
The two numbers that decide it
You need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance for the full new State Pension. You need at least 10 to get anything at all.
Between 10 and 35 years, the amount is worked out pro rata. Each extra qualifying year is worth roughly £6.90 a week at today's rate.
Below ten years you get nothing from the new State Pension, however long you worked in those years. That cliff edge catches people who moved to the UK later in life.
What counts as a qualifying year
| Qualifying years | Roughly what you get a week | Over a year |
|---|---|---|
| 35 or more | £241.30 | About £12,547.60 |
| 30 | About £206.83 | About £10,755 |
| 25 | About £172.36 | About £8,963 |
| 20 | About £137.89 | About £7,170 |
| 15 | About £103.41 | About £5,377 |
| 10 | About £68.90 | About £3,583 |
| Under 10 | Nothing from the new State Pension | Check Pension Credit |
Worked out pro rata from the full rate. Contracting out before 2016 can change your own figure, so check a forecast.
- A tax year where you earned enough to pay National Insurance
- Self-employment where you paid Class 2 contributions
- Claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12
- Receiving Carer's Allowance or caring for at least 20 hours a week
- Getting Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance, or applying for credits while on Statutory Sick Pay and not earning enough for a qualifying year
- Voluntary Class 3 contributions you chose to pay
The Child Benefit credit is the one families lose most often. If the parent at home is not the one registered for Child Benefit, the credit goes to the other parent, though it can be transferred.
Contracting out is why forecasts disappoint
If you were in a final salary scheme before April 2016, you were probably contracted out. You paid less National Insurance and built up scheme benefits instead.
That reduces your new State Pension. You can end up with 40 years on the record and still be short of the full rate.
The fix, where there is one, is more qualifying years after 2016. A forecast will tell you whether extra years still increase your figure.
Want this checked against your own situation?
Send us the figures and we will tell you what they mean. If it is not ours to advise on, we will say who should.
Ask us a questionPrefer WhatsApp? Message us there. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm.
This goes to a separately authorised firm we have vetted. The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by that firm.
When topping up is worth it
Check the forecast first
It shows whether a given year would raise your amount.
Ring the Future Pension Centre
They confirm whether a specific payment helps. This step prevents wasted money.
Compare the cost to the gain
One year typically adds around £6.90 a week for life. Work out the break-even.
Pay only the years that count
Some years cost more than others, and some add nothing.
Check the record updates
Allow several weeks, then confirm the year now shows as full.
Where you stand
- You took years out to raise children or care for someone
- You were self-employed and are unsure what you paid
- You worked abroad for part of your career
- You were in a final salary scheme before 2016
- You already have 35 full years on the record
- The forecast shows the year would not raise your figure
- Your health makes a long retirement unlikely
- You are years from State Pension age and can still build years by working
Check broadband before you make an offer
Broadband speeds can vary street by street, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.
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Questions people actually ask
How many years do I need for a full State Pension?
What if I have fewer than 10 years?
Do years abroad count?
How much is one extra qualifying year worth?
Where do I check my record?
How do I check broadband speed at a property?
Where to go next
- GOV.UK, The new State Pension
- GOV.UK, Check your State Pension forecast
- GOV.UK, Voluntary National Insurance
- MoneyHelper (Money and Pensions Service)
Figures checked on 1 September 2026 and correct for the 2026/27 tax year. Rates change, so check the source before you act on a number.
Forecast come back lower than you expected?
Send us the figure. We will tell you whether topping up is likely to pay and what else is worth checking.
Start a conversationPrefer WhatsApp? Message us there. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 8pm.
This goes to a separately authorised firm we have vetted. The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by that firm.