What should I do next?
Important information about State Pension forecasts
If you will reach State Pension age before 6 April 2010, you can usually get a State Pension forecast online, by post, or over the telephone.
If you will reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, you can currently only get a State Pension forecast online, using the State Pension forecast e-service. This is because we are still updating our other computer systems to reflect the recent changes to State Pension rules. We anticipate that you’ll be able to get a forecast by post, or over the telephone by Autumn 2008.
If your spouse or civil partner has died
If you have been widowed or your civil partner has died and you will reach
State Pension age before 6 April 2010, you can get a State Pension forecast
by post or over the telephone. This will be based on your own and your late
spouse or civil partner's National Insurance record.
If you have been widowed or your civil partner has died and you will reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, we cannot currently give you a State Pension forecast. This is because we are still updating our other computer systems to reflect the recent changes to State Pension rules. You will be able to get a forecast by post or over the telephone from Autumn 2008.
How to apply for a State Pension forecast
Get an instant online pension forecast
(available to all customers except those whose spouse or civil partner has died)
Use our State Pension age calculator to find out when you will be entitled to claim your State Pension.
Find out how changes might affect your State Pension
If you need more information, contact the Future Pension Centre (FPC)
There are a number of things you can do if you want to start planning for your retirement now:
- Find out how much
State Pension you may be entitled to by getting a forecast
This forecast will give you an idea of what you can expect to receive from the Government when you reach State Pension age and help you to decide whether you are currently saving enough for your retirement needs. - If you don’t belong to an occupational pension scheme, ask your employer for information about the scheme they offer.
- If you are already a member of an occupational pension scheme, your employer or pension provider may send you a statement every year that shows how much pension you can expect to receive from the scheme when you retire. If you haven’t received one, you can ask your employer or pension provider to send you one.
- Find out if your employer can give you a combined pension forecast – that is a pension forecast that shows details of both your State Pension and occupational pension together. This will help you to understand what your total pension income is likely to be once you have retired.
Find out more about combined pension forecasts
- If you are self-employed and don’t already have a second pension, visit an independent financial adviser to find out which personal or stakeholder pension would be right for you.
To find an Independent Financial Adviser near you visit the IFA Promotion website
- If you are already a member of a personal pension scheme, your pension provider will send you a statement every year that includes an individual pension forecast for the scheme you belong to. This will tell you how much you may be entitled to when you retire.
- If you think you have one or several old company or personal pensions that you do not know the full details of, contact the Pension Tracing Service. You may have lost touch with your pension scheme, possibly due to a change in jobs, or the company may have changed its name. Whatever the reason, if you are no longer in contact with the company you should get in touch with the Pension Tracing Service, who may be able to give you the information you need to help you trace your pension.