Pensions
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Plain-English UK pensions guides — State Pension, NI gap top-ups, workplace auto-enrolment, and the 25% tax-free lump sum under the post-Lifetime-Allowance regime.
- Pensions
UK State Pension explained (2026/27)
The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in 2026/27 (£12,547.60 over 52 weeks). Your actual amount depends on your National Insurance record. You normally need at least 10 qualifying National Insurance years for any new State Pension. The 35-year rule for the full amount applies if your NI record started after April 2016; earlier records use transitional rules, including any contracted-out history. Check your personal forecast.
- Pensions
Topping up National Insurance gaps for the State Pension
Voluntary National Insurance contributions can fill gaps in a NI record and increase the new State Pension. Until 5 April 2025, men born after 5 April 1951 and women born after 5 April 1953 could fill gaps back to April 2006; after that date the standard 6-year rolling window applies. Check the cost and benefit of the specific year in your NI record; not every gap increases the eventual pension.
- Pensions
Auto-enrolment workplace pensions explained
UK employers must automatically enrol workers aged 22 to State Pension age who earn over £10,000 a year into a workplace pension. The minimum total contribution is 8% of qualifying earnings — at least 3% from the employer and the remaining 5% from the worker (4% net plus 1% basic-rate tax relief). Workers can opt out within one month and have all contributions refunded.
- Pensions
The 25% tax-free pension lump sum
Most UK pension savers can take up to 25% of each defined-contribution pension pot tax-free from age 55 (rising to 57 from April 2028). Since 6 April 2024 there is no Lifetime Allowance; instead a Lump Sum Allowance caps total tax-free lump sums at £268,275, and a Lump Sum and Death Benefit Allowance caps tax-free lump sums (including on death) at £1,073,100. Higher figures apply where Lifetime Allowance protections were registered.