Pensions & RetirementState Pension Forecast UK — How to Check What You'll Get
How to get your State Pension forecast and understand what it means. Check your predicted amount, National Insurance record, and how to fill contribution gaps.
Your State Pension forecast is one of the most important financial documents you can access — yet millions of people never check it. Knowing what you’ll receive (and when) lets you plan properly for retirement and spot gaps you can fill to boost your income.
The good news: checking takes about 5 minutes online, and it’s completely free. Even better, many people discover they can increase their pension significantly by buying missing National Insurance years at excellent value.
Understanding your forecast matters now more than ever. With State Pension age rising and retirement costs increasing, you need clarity on what the state will provide and what you’ll need from private pensions or other savings.
This guide shows you how to get your forecast, understand what it means, and take action to maximise your State Pension.
How to Get Your Forecast
Online (Fastest Method)
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Go to gov.uk/check-state-pension |
| 2 | Sign in with Government Gateway |
| 3 | Complete identity verification |
| 4 | View your forecast |
If You Don’t Have Government Gateway
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Go to gov.uk/government-gateway |
| 2 | Create account |
| 3 | Verify identity |
| 4 | Then access State Pension forecast |
By Post
| Method | Details |
|---|
| Form | BR19 (State Pension forecast request) |
| Download | gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-a-state-pension-statement |
| Post to | Address on form |
| Response time | Few weeks |
Understanding Your Forecast
What You’ll See
| Information | What It Means |
|---|
| Forecast amount | Weekly pension at current State Pension age |
| Qualifying years | Years with enough NI contributions |
| Years still needed | For maximum pension |
| State Pension age | When you can start claiming |
Example Forecast
| Category | Example |
|---|
| Current forecast | £185.50/week |
| Qualifying years so far | 28 years |
| Years to maximum | 7 more years |
| State Pension age | 67 |
State Pension Amounts
New State Pension (Post April 2016)
| Situation | Weekly Amount (2026/27) |
|---|
| Full (35 years) | £230.25 |
| 34 years | £223.67 |
| 30 years | £197.36 |
| 20 years | £131.57 |
| 10 years (minimum) | £65.79 |
Basic vs New State Pension
| Type | Who Gets It |
|---|
| New State Pension | Reached State Pension age after 5 April 2016 |
| Basic State Pension | Reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 |
Qualifying Years
How You Build Them
| Method | Details |
|---|
| Employment | Earning over £125/week (2026/27) |
| Self-employment | Class 2 NI paid |
| NI credits | Unemployment, child benefit, caring |
| Voluntary contributions | Buying missing years |
NI Credits (Free Qualifying Years)
| Situation | Credit Received |
|---|
| Claiming benefits | JSA, ESA, UC |
| Child Benefit (child under 12) | Automatic |
| Carer’s Allowance | Automatic |
| Jury service | Automatic |
| Maternity/paternity | Pay usually covers |
Not Building Qualifying Years?
| Situation | What Happens |
|---|
| Low earnings | May not qualify |
| Between jobs | May have gaps |
| Living abroad | Usually no UK record |
| At-home parent | Check Child Benefit registered |
Checking Your NI Record
How to Check
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Go to gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record |
| 2 | Sign in with Government Gateway |
| 3 | View year-by-year record |
What to Look For
| Record Shows | Meaning |
|---|
| Full year | Qualifying year ✓ |
| Part year | May not count |
| No record | Gap in contributions |
| Credits | Received credits |
Gaps in Your Record
| Gap Type | Options |
|---|
| Missing recent years | May be corrected automatically |
| Errors | Contact HMRC to fix |
| Genuine gaps | Consider buying back |
Buying Missing Years
Voluntary National Insurance
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| What it is | Paying for years you missed |
| Cost | Varies by year (typically £900+) |
| How far back | Up to 6 years |
| Worth it? | Usually yes, but check first |
Note: The extended deadline to buy years back to 2006 ended in April 2025. You can now only buy years within the last 6 tax years.
Is It Worth Buying?
| Consider | Decision |
|---|
| Will it increase your forecast? | Check via gov.uk tool |
| How far from 35 years? | Buying makes sense if gap exists |
| Years until pension? | More years = more return |
| Can you afford it? | It is optional |
How to Work Out Value
Example calculation:
| Factor | Values |
|---|
| Cost of buying 1 year | £907 |
| Extra pension per year | £6.58/week (£342/year) |
| Years to “break even” | £907 ÷ £342 = 2.7 years |
| If you live 20 years in retirement | £6,840 return on £907 |
Usually excellent value if you expect normal life expectancy.
How to Buy Missing Years
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Check forecast shows buying would help |
| 2 | Call HMRC NI helpline: 0300 200 3500 |
| 3 | Pay by card, direct debit, or bank transfer |
| 4 | Years credited to your record |
Deadline for Buying Years
| Standard Rule | Details |
|---|
| How far back | Last 6 tax years only |
| Extended deadline | Ended April 2025 |
| Current position | Standard 6-year rule applies |
Check your NI record for any gaps within the last 6 years and consider filling them before they move outside the window.
State Pension Age
Current State Pension Age
| Birth Date | State Pension Age |
|---|
| Before 6 March 1961 | 66 |
| 6 March 1961 - 5 April 1977 | 66-67 (varies) |
| 6 April 1977 onwards | 67 |
| Future | May rise to 68 |
Check Your Exact Date
| How | Details |
|---|
| Online | gov.uk/state-pension-age |
| Enter birth date | Shows exact date |
Increasing Your Forecast
Options to Build More Years
| Method | How |
|---|
| Keep working | Until 35 years reached |
| Buy voluntary years | Fill gaps |
| Claim NI credits | If caring, unemployed, etc. |
| Register for Child Benefit | Even if not claiming money |
If You’re a Stay-at-Home Parent
| Action | Benefit |
|---|
| Claim Child Benefit | Gets NI credits if not working |
| Even if high earner | Register claim, opt out of payment |
| Grandparents caring | Can transfer credit |
Grandparent Childcare NI Credit
| Feature | Details |
|---|
| Situation | Grandparent cares for grandchild |
| Parent working | And claiming Child Benefit |
| Credit transfer | Parent can transfer NI credit to grandparent |
| Apply | Form CA9176 |
Frequently Asked Questions
“Is the forecast guaranteed?”
| Answer | Details |
|---|
| It’s an estimate | Based on current rules |
| Could change | If you stop working |
| Rules could change | But usually honoured |
“What if I’m self-employed?”
| Situation | What Happens |
|---|
| Class 2 NI | Qualifies for State Pension |
| Paid through Self Assessment | Counts toward years |
| Check record | Ensure it’s showing |
“What about my workplace pension?”
| Different | State Pension |
|---|
| Workplace pension | From employer contributions |
| State Pension | From NI contributions |
| Both | Add together for retirement income |
Summary: State Pension Forecast Checklist
| Step | Action |
|---|
| 1 | Check forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension |
| 2 | Review NI record for gaps |
| 3 | Identify missing years within last 6 tax years |
| 4 | Calculate if buying years makes sense |
| 5 | Consider buying gaps before they fall outside the 6-year window |
| 6 | Ensure you’re building years now |
| 7 | Check State Pension age |
Your State Pension is a valuable part of retirement income — taking 10 minutes to check your forecast could help you plan better and take action to maximise it.
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