Ireland Pension Calculator

Ireland · 2026 rates

Ireland Pension Calculator

Estimate your weekly, monthly and yearly State Pension (Contributory) using the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) — based on your PRSI record, credited contributions, HomeCaring periods, and the age you plan to start drawing your pension.

About you
Please enter an age between 16 and 100.
Your PRSI contribution record
Full years of PAYE employment or self-employment where you paid PRSI. Each year counts as 52 weeks (max 2,080 weeks / 40 years for a full pension). Enter a number of years between 0 and 60.
Weeks credited while unemployed, ill, or on approved training — up to 520 weeks (10 years) can count toward TCA. Enter a number of weeks between 0 and 520.
Time spent caring for a child under 12 or an incapacitated person — up to 1,040 weeks (20 years) can count toward TCA. Enter a number of weeks between 0 and 1040.
When will you start your pension?
The State Pension (Contributory) is payable from age 66. You may defer up to age 70 for a higher rate. Please select a pension start age.

This tool gives an estimate only. For your exact PRSI record, check MyWelfare.ie or request a Statement of Contributions from the DSP.

Your estimated pension

Fill in the form and select "Calculate my pension" to see your estimated State Pension (Contributory) income.
How this is calculated: This calculator uses the Total Contributions Approach (TCA), the method the Department of Social Protection is phasing in fully by 2034. Your paid PRSI weeks (Class A or S), credited weeks (capped at 520), and HomeCaring period weeks (capped at 1,040) are added together and capped at 2,080 weeks (40 years). That total, divided by 2,080, gives your percentage of the maximum 2026 rate of €299.30/week. Deferring your claim from 66 to 70 adds a permanent uplift (4.2% at 67, rising to 18.6% at 70), based on published DSP flexible pension increments. You need a minimum of 520 paid PRSI contributions (10 years) to qualify for any Contributory pension at all. Some people may still get a higher rate under the older Yearly Average method or the transitional blend used for pensions awarded before 2034 — this tool does not calculate those alternative methods. These are simplified estimates for general planning only — they are not financial advice and do not replace your official PRSI Statement of Contributions from the Department of Social Protection.
How much State Pension will you actually get when you turn 66? This free Ireland pension calculator estimates your weekly, monthly, and yearly State Pension (Contributory) using the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) — based on your PRSI record and the age you plan to start drawing your pension. Enter your details below and get a personalised estimate in seconds. No MyWelfare.ie login needed — just a quick, private planning tool you can revisit any time your contribution record changes.

How to Use This Ireland Pension Calculator

Getting your estimate takes less than a minute:
  1. Enter your current age.
  2. Add your years of paid PRSI contributions (Class A or Class S) — this is the core of your State Pension entitlement.
  3. Optionally add credited contribution weeks and HomeCaring period weeks, if either applies to you.
  4. Choose your pension start age, from 66 (standard) up to 70 (deferred).
  5. Select “Calculate my pension” to see your estimated weekly, monthly, and yearly State Pension (Contributory).
If your total comes in lower than expected, the calculator will also flag whether you’ve met the 520-contribution minimum needed to qualify at all.

How Is the Irish State Pension Calculated?

Since 2019, the Department of Social Protection has used the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to work out most people’s State Pension (Contributory) rate, and this calculator’s formula follows the same core method:
  • Add up your qualifying contributions — paid PRSI weeks (Class A or S), plus credited weeks (capped at 520), plus HomeCaring period weeks (capped at 1,040).
  • Cap the total at 2,080 weeks — the equivalent of 40 years, which is what’s needed for the full pension.
  • Divide by 2,080 to get your percentage of the maximum rate.
  • Apply a deferral uplift if you choose to start after 66 — your rate increases permanently the longer you wait, up to age 70.

Eligibility Conditions for the State Pension (Contributory)

To qualify for any State Pension (Contributory), you need to meet three conditions:
  • You must be at least 66 years old.
  • You must have at least 520 paid PRSI contributions (roughly 10 years) in Class A, S, H, or E.
  • You must have started paying PRSI before a certain age and generally be ordinarily resident in Ireland, or covered under a bilateral social security agreement.
Class B, C, and D contributions — typically paid by public servants who started before 1995 — do not count toward the Contributory pension.

Maximum State Pension Rate in 2026

The maximum State Pension (Contributory) rate is €299.30 per week in 2026 (around €15,564 per year), payable from age 66 to anyone with 2,080 or more qualifying contributions. If your total contributions fall short of 2,080, you receive that exact proportion — for example, 1,560 contributions gives you 75% of the maximum rate, or roughly €224.48 per week.

How Deferring Your Pension Changes Your Weekly Rate

Since January 2024, you can choose to start your State Pension (Contributory) any time between 66 and 70. Waiting increases your rate for life:
Start Age Permanent Uplift Weekly Rate (on the €299.30 max)
66 Standard €299.30
67 +4.2% €311.87
68 +8.8% €325.64
69 +13.6% €340.00
70 +18.6% €354.97
There’s no automatically “right” age to draw down your pension — it depends on whether you’re still working, your health, and whether you have other income to bridge the gap if you defer.

State Pension (Contributory) vs. Non-Contributory

Ireland has two separate State Pensions, and it’s easy to confuse them — this calculator estimates the Contributory pension only.
Contributory Non-Contributory
Based on Your PRSI contribution record Means test (income and savings)
Minimum requirement 520 paid PRSI contributions None — but must pass means test
2026 maximum rate €299.30/week €288/week
Affected by other income? No Yes, fully means-tested
If you don’t have enough PRSI contributions for the Contributory pension, you may still qualify for a reduced or full Non-Contributory payment, subject to a means test administered separately by the Department of Social Protection.

What Counts Toward Your PRSI Record

Not every week of your working life necessarily counts. A few things are worth knowing:
  • Paid contributions — weeks where you or your employer paid Class A or Class S PRSI.
  • Credited contributions — weeks credited while unemployed, ill, or on approved training, capped at 520 weeks toward TCA.
  • HomeCaring periods — time spent caring for a child under 12 or an incapacitated person, capped at 1,040 weeks toward TCA.
  • Long-Term Carer’s Contributions — available once you’ve provided at least 1,040 weeks (20 years) of full-time care, and can be used alongside your other contributions.
This calculator provides a simplified TCA-only estimate. The Department of Social Protection also checks the older Yearly Average method (and a transitional blend, for pensions awarded before 2034) and pays whichever calculation gives the higher result. For your exact figure, request a Contribution Statement through MyWelfare.ie.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much State Pension will I get in Ireland?

It depends on your PRSI record. The maximum State Pension (Contributory) in 2026 is €299.30 per week, but you need 2,080 qualifying contributions (about 40 years) to receive it in full. Fewer contributions means a proportionally lower rate. Use the calculator above for a personalised estimate.

How many PRSI contributions do I need for a full pension?

You need 2,080 total qualifying contributions — paid, credited, and HomeCaring combined — for the full 2026 rate of €299.30 per week. You need a minimum of 520 paid contributions just to qualify for any Contributory pension at all.

Is it worth deferring my State Pension past 66?

It can be, if you’re still working or have other income to cover the gap. Deferring adds a permanent uplift of up to 18.6% by age 70. Whether it’s worth it depends on your health, life expectancy, and financial situation.

What’s the difference between the Contributory and Non-Contributory State Pension?

The Contributory pension is based on your PRSI record and isn’t affected by your income or savings. The Non-Contributory pension is means-tested and available to people who don’t qualify for the Contributory pension, or who only qualify for a reduced rate.

Does this Ireland pension calculator include the Yearly Average method?

No, this calculator estimates using the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) only, which is the method being phased in fully by 2034. The Department of Social Protection also checks the Yearly Average method and pays whichever is higher, so your actual entitlement may be slightly different from this estimate.

Plan Your Full Retirement Income

Your State Pension estimate is a strong starting point, but for most people it’s only one part of retirement income — alongside any occupational or private pension. If you’re researching pensions in other countries — for family abroad, relocation, or comparison — you can also try our Canada Pension Plan calculator or browse all available pension calculators for other countries as they’re added. Estimates on this page are based on publicly available 2026 State Pension (Contributory) rates from gov.ie and Citizens Information, and are for general planning purposes only. This tool is not affiliated with the Department of Social Protection, and does not constitute financial advice. For your official contribution record, request a Statement of Contributions via MyWelfare.ie.