The 'Check your State Pension forecast' service at GOV.UK is the only authoritative way to confirm your future State Pension.

It shows your current entitlement, your projected amount at State Pension age, and the gaps in your NI record.

Anyone aged 16 or over with a Government Gateway login can use it.

Forecasts are estimates based on current law and your existing NI record; the figures can change as rules change.

Key Takeaways

  • The forecast service is free, runs in your browser and updates as HMRC records are updated.
  • You can also request a paper forecast using form BR19.
  • The forecast shows the State Pension you have built up so far and what you may receive if you continue to contribute.
  • It indicates which past years have gaps and what voluntary contributions would cost.
  • Forecasts are not a guarantee - rules and rates can change.
  • Checking your forecast early gives you time to Fill gaps cheaply or change your retirement plan.

State Pension Forecast: How to Check What You May Receive in Retirement

A State Pension forecast is the single most useful document for Retirement Planning in the UK. Issued by DWP and HMRC, it estimates the State Pension you have built up so far and the maximum you could receive at State Pension age, based on your current National Insurance (NI) record and the law in force. With the full new State Pension rising to GBP 241.30 a week from 6 April 2026, getting an accurate forecast has rarely been more important.

Forecasts are produced via the free 'Check your State Pension forecast' service at GOV.UK, which combines DWP and HMRC data. The same information underpins the paper BR19 form for those who cannot use online services. The service has been progressively upgraded, including a digital tool launched in 2024 that allows people to pay for voluntary NI directly through GOV.UK in many cases.

This article explains how to obtain a State Pension forecast, how to read the results, the limitations of the figures, and how to translate the forecast into action. It also highlights common pitfalls, such as misinterpreting contracted-out deductions, and the role of the DWP Future Pension Centre in resolving queries.

What a State Pension Forecast Shows

A standard State Pension forecast contains four key numbers. The first is your estimated State Pension based on your NI record up to the previous tax year. The second is the maximum you can receive if you continue to contribute or receive credits until State Pension age. The third is your State Pension age date. The fourth is a year-by-year summary of your NI record, including gaps.

The forecast also signals whether you have any contracted-out deductions, the cost of filling each gap with voluntary contributions, and any other notes specific to your record (for example, time spent working abroad in a country with a reciprocal agreement).

Crucially, the forecast assumes the rules and rates in force at the time of issue. The 2026/27 figures published on the GOV.UK service after the Autumn Budget on 26 November 2025 reflect the 4.8% triple lock uprating.

How to Access Your Forecast

Online via GOV.UK

Visit gov.uk/check-state-pension and sign in via the Government Gateway or GOV.UK One Login. You may need your National Insurance number and a valid form of ID, such as a UK passport or driving licence, to complete identity verification.

Once signed in, the system displays your forecast immediately. Most users see the data update within 24 hours of any new NI activity, although some changes can take several weeks to reflect, particularly after a tax year-end.

By Phone or Paper Form

If you cannot use the online service, you can request a paper forecast using form BR19, available at GOV.UK. The Future Pension Centre helpline can also issue a forecast over the phone in some circumstances.

Paper forecasts typically arrive within ten working days. They contain the same core figures as the online version but without interactive tools for paying voluntary contributions.

Reading the Results: A Step-by-Step Guide

Start with the headline figure: the maximum weekly amount you may receive at State Pension age. Multiply by 52 for the indicative annual amount. Compare with your other retirement income sources - workplace pensions, ISAs, defined benefit entitlement - to assess the total likely income.

Next, look at the Gap Analysis. The service typically lists each tax year and flags whether it is 'full', 'part-paid', or 'not paid'. For each gap, the cost of voluntary Class 3 contributions is shown. Note any years where the cost is zero (typically credits owed) or unusually low (potential Class 2 eligibility).

Finally, examine any contracted-out information. People with workplace pensions that were contracted out of the additional State Pension before 2016 may see a 'Contracted-Out Pension Equivalent' (COPE) figure. The COPE is not deducted from your State Pension directly, but reflects the additional pension you should receive from your workplace scheme.

Worked Example: Translating a Forecast Into a Plan

Consider Marcus, aged 58, who logs into GOV.UK in mid-2026. His forecast shows: current entitlement GBP 195 a week, maximum at State Pension age GBP 230 a week, State Pension age 67 (April 2035), and three years of gaps each costing GBP 923. The forecast notes that further qualifying years up to State Pension age would add about GBP 6.90 a week each, capped at the full new rate.

Marcus is in steady employment and expects to accrue another nine NI years through work before retirement. That alone would lift his entitlement past the current full rate, so paying for the three historic gaps would not increase his State Pension. He decides not to pay, and saves the GBP 2,769 toward his workplace pension instead.

Now consider Sasha, aged 63, with the same gaps but only one further year of work expected before retirement. Filling the three gaps for GBP 2,769 would lift her entitlement by about GBP 20.70 a week, or roughly GBP 1,076 a year. The payback period is around three years; for someone with a typical retirement of 20+ years, the return is substantial.

Common Misunderstandings

Some users are alarmed by the 'COPE' figure, assuming it will be deducted from their State Pension. In reality, the COPE reflects the contracted-out additional pension that should already be paid via your workplace scheme; the State Pension figure shown already reflects the relevant transitional adjustment.

Others assume their forecast is a guaranteed amount. It is not. The figures rely on the law in force, the assumption that future contributions or credits will continue at the same rate, and the rates in force when the forecast is produced. Triple lock changes and policy reforms can move both the headline figure and the rules used to calculate it.

A further misconception is that paying voluntary NI always boosts the forecast. For people with pre-2016 contributions and a starting amount above the full new State Pension, additional years often do not increase entitlement. The forecast itself shows whether further contributions help.

When to Act on a Forecast

There is no universally 'right' time to check, but several life events should prompt a review: a career break, a move overseas, becoming self-employed, divorce or bereavement, or approaching State Pension age within five to ten years.

Acting earlier provides more Options. Voluntary NI for older years is no longer available outside the standard six-year window for most people; gaps from before 2006 can no longer be filled, and gaps from 2006 to 2019 closed under the extended deadline in April 2025. Checking annually from your mid-40s onward is a sensible discipline for many.

If you discover errors or missing employer records, contact HMRC's National Insurance helpline. Common issues include missing Statutory Maternity Pay periods, mistakes after employer name changes, and overseas postings under reciprocal agreements that did not flow through automatically.

What UK Readers Should Consider Before Acting

Treat the forecast as the starting point, not the finished plan. The figure should be combined with workplace and personal pension projections to estimate total retirement income. The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association's Retirement Living Standards offer a useful benchmark for what total income to aim for.

If you intend to pay voluntary NI, contact the DWP Future Pension Centre before sending payment. They can confirm whether the payment will increase your State Pension and which years to prioritise. The HMRC NI helpline handles the payment side and any record corrections.

For coordinated retirement planning - covering State Pension, workplace pensions, tax allowances and inheritance considerations - a regulated financial adviser or pension specialist is appropriate. Free guidance is available via MoneyHelper, and Pension Wise offers free appointments for people aged 50+ with a defined contribution pension.