State Pension for the Self-Employed: What You'll Get

Do Self-Employed People Get a State Pension?

Yes. Self-employed people qualify for the State Pension through their National Insurance contributions, specifically Class 2 NI. However, the amount you receive depends on how many qualifying years you have accumulated.

How Much Is the State Pension?

For 2025/26, the full new State Pension is £221.20 per week (£11,502.40 per year). To receive the full amount, you need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. The minimum to receive any State Pension is 10 qualifying years.

If you have between 10 and 35 qualifying years, your State Pension is proportional. For example, 25 qualifying years gives you approximately 25/35 of the full amount — around £158 per week.

How Self-Employed People Build Qualifying Years

When you are self-employed and earning above the Small Profits Threshold (£6,725 for 2025/26), you pay Class 2 National Insurance at £3.45 per week. Each year you pay gives you a qualifying year towards your State Pension.

You also pay Class 4 NI on profits between £12,570 and £50,270 at 6%, but Class 4 does not count towards your State Pension — only Class 2 matters.

What If Your Profits Are Low?

If your profits are below the Small Profits Threshold, you may not be paying enough NI to get a qualifying year. You can make voluntary Class 2 contributions at £3.45 per week (£179.40 per year) to maintain your record.

This is one of the best value investments available. Paying £179.40 for a full qualifying year of State Pension is extraordinarily good value compared to the additional pension income it generates.

Checking Your State Pension Forecast

Visit the Check Your State Pension page on GOV.UK to see:

• How many qualifying years you have
• How much State Pension you are projected to receive
• Whether you have gaps that could be filled

Filling Gaps in Your NI Record

If you have gaps — years where you did not pay enough NI — you may be able to fill them by making voluntary contributions. You can usually go back up to six years, though there are sometimes special arrangements allowing you to go back further.

The cost of filling a gap varies depending on how old the gap is and which class of NI applies. For recent gaps, voluntary Class 2 contributions are the cheapest option.

Is It Worth Filling Gaps?

Almost always yes. Each qualifying year adds approximately £6.29 per week to your State Pension (£327 per year). If you pay £179.40 for a voluntary Class 2 year, you recover that cost in under seven months of pension payments — and then receive the additional amount for life.

State Pension Age

The State Pension age is currently 66 and is scheduled to rise to 67 between 2026 and 2028, and to 68 between 2044 and 2046. Check GOV.UK for your personal State Pension age.

The State Pension Is Not Enough

Even at the full rate, the State Pension provides £11,502 per year. For most people, this is a foundation — not a complete retirement income. Private pension saving is essential to bridge the gap between the State Pension and the income you actually need.

How Accounted Helps

Accounted tracks your self-employment profits and NI contributions, helping you ensure your State Pension record stays on track:

• Profit monitoring — see whether you are above the Small Profits Threshold
• NI tracking — understand your Class 2 and Class 4 obligations
• Tax preparation — ensure your Self Assessment correctly reports your self-employment income

Explore our pricing plans and take control of your financial future.

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Your State Pension depends on your NI record — make sure it is complete. Sign up for Accounted and let Penny keep your finances visible.