Facts about your State Pension
Your State Pension will be a key source of retirement income, along with your USS pension. Here are a few things worth knowing about it:
1. Will you get a State Pension?
You will get a State Pension if you have at least 10 qualifying years’ worth of National Insurance contributions or credits. However, to get the full State Pension, you’ll usually need 35 years of National Insurance contributions or credits.
2. What will you get?
The State Pension usually changes each year, rising with inflation. The current full State Pension, for people who reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 is £12,547.60 a year. This is subject to some exceptions, and you can check your own circumstances on the State Penson forecast.
3. Can you boost your State Pension?
If you are not going to have enough qualifying years to get your full State Pension, you can make voluntary National Insurance contributions to help fill the gaps.
4. Is it taxable?
Yes, if your income is above your personal allowance (the current standard personal allowance in the UK is £12,570). So, once the State Pension is combined with other pension income, it’s likely that you will be liable for Income Tax. This Income Tax is typically taken from your private pension rather than your State Pension.
5. When will I get it?
If you were born before 5 April 1977, you’ll get your State Pension at 67. State Pension age is planned to rise from 67 to 68, incrementally between April 2044 and April 2046, and this impacts anyone born on or after 6 April 1977. You can check your State Pension age on the government website.
What next? Think about your retirement plan
What will you get in total?
Once you’re clear on what State Pension you’ll get and when you’ll get it, it’s worth looking at what you could get from your USS pension and any other pensions you have. You can use the Benefit Calculator in My USS to project what you’ll get from USS.
How much will you need?
For an idea of what you’ll need, you can check out the Retirement Living Standards. However, it’s also worth looking at your own finances to see what you spend each month and thinking about how that might change in the future.
For some help with planning, you can watch or register for our Planning ahead for your retirement webinar.
The retirement process
Once you’re ready to think about taking your pension it’s worth refreshing yourself on the process. Our timeline to retirement page is a good place to start.
Published: 17 June 2026