HMRC says almost 7 million adults have never checked their State Pension forecast. Here is how to check yours and what to do if it shows a gap

Millions of people could be missing information that may help them prepare for retirement after new research found that one in eight UK adults has never checked their State Pension forecast.

According to new research published by HMRC for Pension Awareness Week, around 6.9 million adults have never checked their forecast. People aged 45 to 54 were more likely than any other age group not to have checked, despite being at an important stage for retirement planning. 

A State Pension forecast can show how much you could receive, when you may be able to claim it and whether there are ways to increase your entitlement.

But finding a gap in your National Insurance record does not automatically mean you should pay to fill it.

Here is how to check your forecast, what the figures mean and what to consider before paying voluntary National Insurance contributions.

How do you check your State Pension forecast?

The quickest option is the official GOV.UK State Pension forecast service.

You need to sign in to use the service. If you do not already have sign-in details, you can create them during the process. You may also be asked to prove your identity, which normally involves photo identification such as a passport or driving licence.

You can also check your forecast through the HMRC app.

HMRC is encouraging people to check during Pension Awareness Week, which runs from 15 to 18 September 2026. Its latest research found that 12.5% of UK adults had never checked their forecast.

What does a State Pension forecast show?

The GOV.UK forecast service can show:

• how much State Pension you could receive
• when you could receive it
• whether you may be able to increase it
• how you could potentially increase it, including by filling eligible National Insurance gaps

The amount shown is based on your National Insurance record and individual circumstances. GOV.UK also notes that State Pension age is regularly reviewed, so the age shown in a forecast could change in future.

How much is the full State Pension in 2026?

The full new State Pension is £241.30 a week in the 2026/27 tax year.

However, that does not mean everyone receives £241.30.

Your actual payment depends on your National Insurance record and can also be affected by factors such as whether you were contracted out before 2016. You can see the rules and current rate in the official GOV.UK new State Pension guidance.

People covered by the older basic State Pension system are subject to different rules. The full basic State Pension is £184.90 a week for 2026/27. 

For that reason, your own forecast is more useful than assuming you will automatically receive the headline full rate.

How do you check your National Insurance record?

You can check your National Insurance record on GOV.UK.

The service shows contributions and National Insurance credits on your record and can identify years that do not currently count as qualifying years towards your State Pension.

Importantly, it can also tell you whether you could benefit from paying voluntary contributions, how much a payment would cost and how your State Pension forecast could change if you filled a gap. 

That makes the National Insurance record particularly useful if the pension figure in your forecast is lower than you expected.

Does a National Insurance gap mean you should pay to fill it?

Not necessarily.

This is one of the most important things to check before making a voluntary payment.

Official GOV.UK guidance on voluntary National Insurance contributions warns that paying to fill a gap does not always increase your State Pension.

Before paying, you should check whether filling that particular year would actually improve your forecast and whether you could qualify for National Insurance credits instead. 

For example, GOV.UK notes that some people who were previously contracted out may not benefit from voluntary contributions in the way they expect.

So seeing an incomplete year on your record should be treated as something to investigate, not automatically as a bill that needs paying.

Could you fill a National Insurance gap without paying?

Possibly.

Some people may be entitled to National Insurance credits, which can protect their record without requiring them to make voluntary contributions.

Credits can apply in certain circumstances, including some periods when a person was unemployed, ill, a parent or a carer. The government’s State Pension guidance explains that qualifying years can be built through contributions, credits or voluntary payments. 

GOV.UK therefore recommends checking whether you are eligible for credits before deciding to pay to fill a gap. 

How much do voluntary National Insurance contributions cost?

For the 2026/27 tax year, the standard Class 3 voluntary National Insurance rate is £18.40 a week. 

That works out to £956.80 for 52 weeks at the current rate, although the actual cost of filling a particular year can vary depending on which tax year you are paying for.

You can check the applicable amount through the official National Insurance record service before making a payment.

How far back can you fill National Insurance gaps?

Under the standard current rules, voluntary Class 3 contributions can normally be paid for gaps in the previous six tax years.

The deadline is generally 5 April each year for the oldest available year. For example, the government’s voluntary Class 3 payment guidance says a gap for the 2025/26 tax year can be filled until 5 April 2032. 

Different rules can apply in some circumstances, particularly for people who have lived or worked abroad.

Can you pay voluntary National Insurance online?

Some people can.

The government’s online service can show eligible users whether paying voluntary contributions would increase their State Pension and, where available, allow them to make the payment online.

GOV.UK says the National Insurance record service can show whether you can pay online, how much it will cost and how the payment would change your forecast.

People with more complicated circumstances may need to contact the Future Pension Centre, Pension Service or HMRC instead.

Does your State Pension forecast include workplace or private pensions?

No.

The State Pension forecast relates to your entitlement from the state system.

It does not show the combined value of your workplace pensions, personal pensions or other private pension pots.

The GOV.UK State Pension forecast guidance treats workplace and personal pensions separately and points users to other services for those pensions. 

That distinction is particularly relevant because HMRC’s new research found that 24% of respondents worried about losing track of pension pots from previous jobs. 

Who cannot use the online State Pension forecast?

The standard online service cannot be used if you are already receiving your State Pension or have delayed or deferred claiming it.

GOV.UK says people already receiving the State Pension should contact the Pension Service if they live in the UK, while people living abroad can contact the International Pension Centre. 

What if you cannot check your forecast online?

There are alternatives.

If you are more than 30 days away from State Pension age, you can request a forecast by contacting the Future Pension Centre or using form BR19.

The official BR19 State Pension forecast application can be completed and sent by post if you cannot use the online service. GOV.UK says the online checker remains the quickest option. 

Why is HMRC asking people to check now?

The latest push coincides with Pension Awareness Week 2026.

HMRC surveyed 5,206 consumers between February and March and found that 12.5% of UK adults had never checked their State Pension forecast, equivalent to approximately 6.9 million people. 

Among the reasons people gave for delaying were feeling retirement was still too far away, worrying about losing track of old pension pots and concerns about the effect of career breaks.

Some respondents simply did not know how to check their State Pension, while others thought the process would be too complicated. 

HMRC says its app can help users check their forecast, see potential gaps in their National Insurance record and top up contributions where they are eligible to do so. 

What should you do after checking your State Pension forecast?

Do not look only at the headline weekly amount.

Check when you are expected to reach State Pension age, whether your forecast says the amount could increase and whether your National Insurance record contains incomplete years.

If you find a gap, use the official National Insurance record checker to see whether filling it would actually improve your pension and whether voluntary payment is available.

Most importantly, do not assume every National Insurance gap needs to be paid. GOV.UK specifically warns that voluntary contributions do not always increase State Pension entitlement. 

For some people, checking the forecast may simply confirm they are on track. For others, it could highlight an issue that is easier to investigate while there is still time to act.