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 (2025/26)
The new full State Pension is £230.25 a week (£11,973 a year) in 2025/26, paid to people reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016 with 35 qualifying years of National Insurance. State Pension age is 66 and rises to 67 between 2026 and 2028. Forecasts and NI records are on gov.uk/check-state-pension.
- 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. A 2025/26 Class 3 contribution costs £17.75 a week (£923 for a full year) and typically adds around £329 a year to the State 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.