How to check your State Pension forecast, step by step

Your forecast is the only number that matters for your own retirement. The full rate on the news is not what most people get. The forecast takes about five minutes.

Step by step

1. Go to gov.uk/check-state-pension.
2. Sign in with GOV.UK One Login or a Government Gateway account. If you have neither, you create one there. You will need your National Insurance number and photo ID or details from a payslip, P60 or passport.
3. The forecast page shows your State Pension age and date, a weekly estimate, and your National Insurance record.

Reading it

• "Your forecast is £X a week." What you get if you keep paying or being credited NI until State Pension age. This is the headline.
• "Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2026: £Y a week." What you have earned so far. The gap between Y and X is the years still to come.
• "You cannot improve your forecast any further." You are already on track for the full rate. Extra years will not add anything.
• "You can improve your forecast." You have gaps you could fill. See the voluntary National Insurance guide.

Three things people miss

The forecast assumes you keep working or being credited until State Pension age. If you stop early, the number falls. It is in today's money, so it will be higher by the time you claim because of annual increases. And it does not include any private or workplace pension; those are separate.

If you cannot use the online service, you can request a paper forecast with form BR19 or by calling the Future Pension Centre.

Sources

• Check your State Pension forecast, gov.uk
• Check your National Insurance record, gov.uk

Information only, not financial advice. If a figure here and gov.uk ever disagree, gov.uk is right and we will fix it.