State Pension UK: Amounts, NI Qualifying Years, Deferral, Forecasts and ClaimingCheck Your State Pension Forecast UK 2026 — How Much Will You Get?
How to check your state pension forecast online. Understand your National Insurance record, find gaps, and calculate how much state pension you'll receive at retirement.
Your state pension forecast shows how much you’ll receive at retirement. Here’s how to check it and what to do if it’s less than expected.
Read more: See our State Pension guide for a complete overview of this topic.
How to Check Your Forecast
Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Go to gov.uk/check-state-pension
Step 2: Sign in or create an account
| Method | Process |
|---|
| Government Gateway | Use existing ID and password |
| GOV.UK One Login | New verification system |
| No account | Create one (takes 10 minutes) |
Step 3: View your forecast
You’ll see:
- Your predicted state pension amount
- Your state pension age
- Your National Insurance record
What the Forecast Shows
| Information | What It Tells You |
|---|
| Weekly forecast | Amount you’ll receive per week |
| Annual equivalent | Yearly pension amount |
| State pension age | When you can claim |
| NI record | Years that count |
| Gaps | Years missing contributions |
Understanding Your Forecast
A Sample Forecast
| Element | Example |
|---|
| Current forecast | £198.50/week |
| Full state pension | £232.15/week |
| Qualifying years so far | 30 years |
| Years needed for full | 35 years |
| Years until SPA | 8 years |
This means: If you continue working and paying NI, you should reach the full amount.
Forecast Scenarios
| Your Record | Forecast | Outlook |
|---|
| 35+ years | Full £232.15/week | Maximum achieved |
| 30 years (5 to SPA) | £198.50/week now | Full if you continue |
| 25 years (2 to SPA) | £165.80/week now | Won’t reach full |
| 15 years (10 to SPA) | £99.50/week now | Could reach full |
| 10 years (0 to SPA) | £66.33/week | Minimum — no increase |
Your National Insurance Record
What Counts as a Qualifying Year
| Situation | How It Qualifies |
|---|
| Employed, earning £123+/week | Automatic through payroll |
| Self-employed | Paying Class 2 NI |
| Claiming benefits | NI credits (JSA, ESA, etc.) |
| Caring for children | Child Benefit NI credit |
| Caring for adults | Carer’s Credit |
| Receiving Working Tax Credit | NI credits |
| Grandparent childcare | Specified Adult Childcare Credit |
Common Reasons for Gaps
| Reason | How to Fix |
|---|
| Low earnings | May have paid reduced rate — check |
| Unemployment (not claiming) | Cannot fill retrospectively |
| Time abroad | May have contributed there |
| Self-employed (not paying Class 2) | May owe — can pay back |
| Contracted out | May reduce new state pension |
| Maternity without Child Benefit claim | Claim NI credits |
Checking Your NI Record
What to Look For
Viewing your record:
Your NI record shows each tax year with one of these labels:
| Label | Meaning |
|---|
| Full year | Counts towards state pension |
| Year is not full | Missing contributions |
| No record | No contributions made |
| You were contracted out | Reduced NI rate paid |
What “Not Full” Means
| Scenario | Typical Cause |
|---|
| Some contributions but not 52 weeks | Part-year employment |
| Below earnings threshold | Low-paid work |
| Missing credits | Didn’t claim benefits |
| Self-employment unpaid | Didn’t pay Class 2 |
Gaps in Your Record
How Gaps Affect Your Pension
| Qualifying Years | Weekly State Pension | % of Full |
|---|
| 35 | £232.15 | 100% |
| 32 | £212.83 | 92% |
| 30 | £199.03 | 86% |
| 25 | £165.82 | 71% |
| 20 | £132.66 | 57% |
| 15 | £99.49 | 43% |
| 10 | £66.33 | 29% |
| Under 10 | £0 | 0% |
Filling Gaps with Voluntary Contributions
| Class | Cost (2026/27) | Who Can Pay |
|---|
| Class 3 | £17.45/week (£907.40/year) | Most people |
| Class 2 | £3.45/week (£179.40/year) | Self-employed |
Is It Worth Buying Years?
Quick calculation:
| Factor | Amount |
|---|
| Cost of 1 year (Class 3) | £907.40 |
| Extra pension per year | ~£345 |
| Break-even | 2.6 years of receiving pension |
| 20 years of retirement | Return of ~£6,000 |
Usually excellent value — but get a state pension forecast first to confirm the benefit.
How to Buy Missing Years
Step 1: Get a forecast and identify gaps
Step 2: Check which years can be bought
| Tax Year | Normal Deadline | Extended Deadline |
|---|
| 2006/07 - 2015/16 | Expired April 2025 | N/A |
| 2020/21 | April 2027 | — |
| 2021/22 | April 2028 | — |
| 2022/23 | April 2029 | — |
Step 3: Contact Future Pension Centre
- Phone: 0800 731 0175
- Ask for a statement of how much each year costs
- Ask how each year would affect your forecast
Step 4: Pay by phone, online, or bank transfer
NI Credits You Might Be Missing
Automatic Credits (Should Be Applied)
| Credit | Situation |
|---|
| Child Benefit | Claiming for child under 12 |
| Jobseeker’s Allowance | Claiming JSA |
| Employment Support Allowance | Claiming ESA |
| Universal Credit | Claiming UC |
| Carer’s Allowance | Claiming CA |
Credits You Must Claim
| Credit | Situation | How to Claim |
|---|
| Grandparent Childcare Credit | Caring for grandchildren while parent works | Form CA9176 |
| Carer’s Credit | Caring 20+ hours but not receiving CA | Form CF411 |
| Approved training | On certain training courses | Via training provider |
Example: Grandparent Credit
If you’re a grandparent caring for grandchildren while the parent works, and the parent claims Child Benefit:
- Parent doesn’t need the credit (has enough NI from work)
- Parent transfers credit to you (Form CA9176)
- You get a qualifying year
- Your state pension increases
Contracted Out Pensions
What “Contracted Out” Means
| Situation | Effect |
|---|
| Pre-2016 employment | Employer pension instead of SERPS/S2P |
| Reduced NI paid | Lower contributions |
| Built up private pension | Instead of additional state pension |
| Impact on new state pension | Starting amount may be reduced |
Your “Starting Amount”
If you have years contracted out before 2016:
| Calculation | Result |
|---|
| Old rules calculation | What you’d get under old system |
| New rules calculation | What you’d get under new system |
| Your starting amount | Higher of the two |
| Minus contracted-out deduction | If applicable |
| Your foundation amount | What you start with |
Example
| Element | Amount |
|---|
| Full state pension | £232.15/week |
| Contracted-out deduction | -£35.00/week |
| Starting amount | £197.15/week |
| Years to SPA | 5 years |
| Each year adds (1/35) | £6.63/week |
| Final forecast | £230.30/week |
If Your Forecast Is Wrong
Common Errors
| Problem | What to Check |
|---|
| Missing years | Did you work? Check with employer |
| Wrong employer info | P60s, payslips |
| Credits not applied | Child Benefit records, benefit claims |
| Overseas contributions | Contact DWP |
How to Correct Errors
Step 1: Gather evidence
- P60s
- Payslips
- Benefit letters
- Child Benefit records
Step 2: Contact HMRC
- Phone: 0300 200 3500
- Write with evidence
Step 3: Follow up
- Check record again after 6 weeks
- Escalate if not corrected
Maximizing Your State Pension
Action Plan by Age Group
Under 50:
| Action | Priority |
|---|
| Register for forecast | Check baseline |
| Claim all NI credits | Don’t miss free years |
| Fill recent gaps | Still within deadline |
50-60:
| Action | Priority |
|---|
| Full forecast review | Plan final working years |
| Buy any valuable missing years | Before deadline expires |
| Calculate if you’ll reach 35 years | Know target |
60+:
| Action | Priority |
|---|
| Confirm forecast accuracy | Prepare for claiming |
| Final gap filling | Last opportunity |
| Claim decision | Start claim vs defer |
Forecast vs Reality
What Can Change
| Factor | Effect |
|---|
| Government policy | Pension rules could change |
| Your employment | Could gain or lose years |
| Triple lock | Affects future amounts |
| Inflation | Affects real value |
Planning with Uncertainty
| Approach | How |
|---|
| Check annually | Review forecast each year |
| Don’t rely solely on state pension | Build private savings |
| Assume conservative growth | Don’t over-estimate |
| Consider worst case | Plan for lower amount |