A new press release from HMRC is highlighting the fact that almost 7 million UK adults could be heading towards retirement without knowing how much State Pension they may be entitled to. New research has found that around one in eight adults (12.5%) have never checked their State Pension forecast.
Those aged 45 to 54 are more likely than any other age group to have never checked their forecast, despite this being an important time for retirement planning. However, it is important that people of all ages check their State Pension forecast regularly rather than leaving it until retirement is approaching.
The State Pension forecast shows when someone can claim their State Pension, how much they could receive and whether there are ways to increase their entitlement. It can also be used alongside a National Insurance record to identify gaps in contributions or credits.
Where there are gaps, some people may be able to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions. However, paying voluntary contributions does not always increase the State Pension, so the forecast and National Insurance record should be checked before making a payment.
The forecast can be checked through the free HMRC app or online via GOV.UK. If you have never checked your State Pension forecast or it has been a long time since you did so, it could be worth taking a few minutes to find out what your State Pension position looks like.
