How to check your State Pension forecast in the UK and fill the gaps

The UK State Pension depends not on your salary but on how many “qualifying years” of National Insurance (NI) you have built up. You can check your personal forecast free on GOV.UK — and find out in advance whether you will have enough record for the full pension.

How much is the full new State Pension?

GOV.UK states that the full rate of the new State Pension is £241.30 a week. The exact amount for you depends on your NI record and can be lower, or (through certain additions) higher.

How many years do you need?

To get the full new pension you usually need 35 qualifying years of NI. To get any State Pension at all you generally need at least 10 years. People who were “contracted out” before 2016 may need more than 35 years for the full rate.

How do you check your forecast?

Use the “Check your State Pension forecast” service on GOV.UK. You sign in through Government Gateway (or GOV.UK One Login). The service shows your forecast, your State Pension age, your NI record year by year, and which years have gaps.

What if there are gaps in your record?

Gaps can sometimes be filled. There are several options: check whether you are due free NI credits (for example for caring for a child, illness, caring for an adult or minding grandchildren), or pay voluntary contributions. The forecast service tells you whether paying would raise your pension — sometimes there is no point paying if your record is already enough.

When is it especially worth checking?

Check your forecast if you came to the UK recently, worked abroad, were self-employed, had long periods out of work or cared for relatives. The sooner you see gaps, the more options you have to fill them — some voluntary top-ups are time-limited. Beware scam messages about “pension bonuses”: the only official source is GOV.UK.

When do you reach pension age?

The UK State Pension age is rising and depends on your date of birth; it is the same for men and women. The same GOV.UK service (“Check your State Pension age”) shows your exact date. Note: the State Pension is not paid automatically — you must claim it when you reach the age; an invitation is sent in advance.

How do you count pension record from another country?

Years worked abroad are not automatically added to your UK record, but periods in some countries with which the UK has social security agreements may count towards your entitlement. If you worked both in the UK and abroad, check your situation with the International Pension Centre and be sure to check your forecast: it is often better value to top up UK years with voluntary contributions.