State Pension Ireland 2026–27: Rates, PRSI Contributions and HomeCaring
The State Pension (Contributory) pays up to €299.30 a week if you draw it at 66 in 2026, and €309.30 from January 2027. It is not means-tested, but it is not flat either: since 2025 your rate depends on the total number of PRSI contributions on your record, and for anyone with gaps, years spent caring at home can make a large difference.
Work out your own rate with the State Pension calculator: enter your paid contributions, credits and HomeCaring Periods and see your percentage, your weekly rate and how far you are from the full pension.
The rates
| Age you draw it | Maximum weekly rate 2026 | From January 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | €299.30 | €309.30 |
| 67 | €313.40 | +€10, proportionate |
| 68 | €328.90 | +€10, proportionate |
You can defer drawing it up to age 70 for a higher weekly rate. Increases are paid for a qualified adult (in 2026 up to €199.40 if they are under 66, €268.40 if 66 or over, drawn at 66), and Budget 2027 raises the Child Support Payment to €64 a week for children under 12 and €84 for those 12 and over.
Who qualifies
- You are 66 or over.
- You started paying PRSI at least 10 years before you draw the pension (before 56 to draw it at 66).
- You have at least 520 full-rate paid contributions (10 years) at Class A, E, F, G, H, N or S. High-rate voluntary contributions can make up part of this if you have at least 260 paid.
Above that, your rate depends on how many contributions you have in total. If you do not qualify, or get a low rate, check the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory).
How your rate is worked out: the Total Contributions Approach
Add up three things, then divide by 2,080 (40 years):
- Paid contributions from employment or self-employment, plus high-rate and special voluntary contributions and Long-Term Carer’s Contributions.
- Credited contributions, for example while on Jobseeker’s Benefit, Illness Benefit or Maternity Benefit: up to 520 (10 years) count.
- HomeCaring Periods for time spent caring for a child under 12 or someone needing full-time care. Credits and HomeCaring together can count for up to 1,040 (20 years).
The result, as a percentage cut to two decimals, is applied to the maximum rate. These figures are computed by our calculator’s tested code for someone drawing the pension at 66 in 2027:
| Record | Total | Share | Weekly (2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 years of PRSI (full record) | 2,080 | 100.00% | €309.30 |
| The Department’s example: 947 paid + 520 credits + 350 HomeCaring | 1,817 | 87.35% | €270.17 |
| 25 years paid, 3 years credits | 1,456 | 70.00% | €216.51 |
| 15 years paid, 10 years credits, 10 years HomeCaring | 1,820 | 87.50% | €270.64 |
| 20 years paid only | 1,040 | 50.00% | €154.65 |
| 10 years paid only (the minimum) | 520 | 25.00% | €77.33 |
If you spent years caring at home, check your record. In the table, someone with 15 years of paid PRSI gets €270.64 a week with 10 years of credits and 10 years of HomeCaring Periods on their record, against €115.99 on the paid years alone. HomeCaring Periods are not added automatically: apply on form PCS1 (ask the Pension Caring Supports Section to post it) or online at MyWelfare.ie. If you already get a pension, ask for a review.
If you reach pension age between 2025 and 2033
The older Yearly Average method is being phased out over ten years. If the Total Contributions Approach would give you less than the maximum, the Department also works out a blend of the two and pays you whichever is higher: 80% Yearly Average and 20% TCA if you draw the pension in 2026, 70/30 in 2027, and so on until 2034, when only the TCA is used. Our calculator shows the TCA rate, so your actual rate can be higher than it shows, never lower.
How to apply
- Check your PRSI record: request a contribution statement on MyWelfare.ie and look for gaps.
- If you cared for children or someone else, apply for HomeCaring Periods or Long-Term Carer’s Contributions (form PCS1).
- Apply for the pension online at MyWelfare.ie with a verified MyGovID account, or on form SPC1 from the post office, an Intreo Centre or gov.ie.
Check everything you can claim
The State Pension, Fuel Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and more, in one check with official 2026 and 2027 rates.
What can I claim? →Related
- State Pension calculator: your percentage and weekly rate from your record.
- Fuel Allowance guide: the over-66 income limit rises to €640.80 in January.
- Pension auto-enrolment (My Future Fund): the private pension on top.
- State pensions by country: Ireland against five other systems.
Sources
- Citizens Information: State Pension (Contributory) (qualifying conditions, TCA, rates by age, Yearly Average phase-out, caring supports, Budget 2027; page edited 8 October 2026)
- Department of Social Protection: How to calculate your State Pension (Contributory) rate (the worked example in the table)
Rules and rates read on the linked official pages on 3 November 2026. General information, not advice: the Department of Social Protection decides your rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the State Pension in Ireland in 2026 and 2027?
The maximum State Pension (Contributory) is €299.30 a week in 2026 if you draw it at 66 (€313.40 at 67, €328.90 at 68). Budget 2027 adds €10 from January 2027, so €309.30 at 66, with proportionate increases for reduced rates and adult dependants.
How many PRSI contributions do I need for the full State Pension?
Under the Total Contributions Approach you need 2,080 contributions (about 40 years) for the maximum rate. You need at least 520 full-rate paid contributions (10 years) to qualify at all, and you must have started paying PRSI at least 10 years before you draw the pension.
How is the State Pension (Contributory) calculated?
Add your paid contributions, up to 520 credited contributions and HomeCaring Periods (credits and HomeCaring together up to 1,040), divide by 2,080 and multiply by the maximum rate. For people drawing the pension from 2025 to 2033, the Department also works out a blend with the older Yearly Average method and pays whichever is higher.
What are HomeCaring Periods?
Weeks spent out of paid work caring for a child under 12 or for someone who needs full-time care can be added to your record as HomeCaring Periods, up to 20 years together with credits. Apply on form PCS1 (by post from the Pension Caring Supports Section) or online at MyWelfare.ie. If you already get a pension, you can ask for a review.
Can I work and get the State Pension?
Yes. The State Pension (Contributory) is not means-tested, so you can keep working or have an occupational pension. You can also defer it up to age 70 and get a higher weekly rate.
How do I apply for the State Pension?
Online at MyWelfare.ie with a verified MyGovID account, or on form SPC1 from the post office, an Intreo Centre or gov.ie. You can check your PRSI record first by requesting a contribution statement on MyWelfare.ie.
Cite this article
DecisionsCalc. (2026). State Pension Ireland 2026–27: Rates, PRSI Contributions and HomeCaring. DecisionsCalc. https://decisionscalc.com/articles/state-pension-ireland/