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Getting a State Pension forecast
When considering how much money you'll need in retirement, it's important to take the State Pension into account (as well as any company or personal pensions and other savings). A State Pension forecast will give you information to help plan your finances and decide whether you need to save more.
Who can get a State Pension forecast?
You can get a State Pension forecast if you:
- live in the UK and
- are more than 30 days away from State Pension age
If you will reach State Pension age before 6 April 2010, you can usually get a State Pension forecast online, by post, or over the telephone.
If you will reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, you can currently only get a State Pension forecast online.
If you're within four months of State Pension age, you should have already received an invitation to claim through the post. If you haven't, get in touch with The Pension Service straight away. You can call The Pension Service about your State Pension on 0845 60 60 265. A textphone service is also available on 0845 60 60 285. Lines are open 8.00 am to 8.00 pm, Monday to Friday.
If you spouse or civil partner has died
If you have been widowed or your civil partner has died and you will reach State Pension age before 6 April 2010, you can get a State Pension forecast by post or over the telephone. This will be based on your own and your late spouse or civil partner's National Insurance record.
If you have been widowed or your civil partner has died and you will reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, you will be able to get a State Pension forecast by post or over the telephone from Autumn 2008. This is because The Pension Service is updating its computer systems to reflect the recent changes to State Pension rules.
What a State Pension forecast will tell you
A State Pension forecast covers:
- the basic State Pension
- the additional State Pension (also called the State Second Pension and formerly known as the State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme (SERPS))
You'll be given:
- your current number of qualifying years (the number of years you've made or been credited with National Insurance contributions (NICs))
- the current value of your State Pension
- a forecast of how much State Pension you may get at State Pension age, based on the current information about you and assumptions made about the further National Insurance contributions you may make or be credited with between the time the forecast is issued and when you reach State pension age
- information on how you may be able to improve your basic State Pension
- a forecast of how much you could get by putting off claiming your State Pension
- the effect on your additional State Pension if you are contracted out, either through a company (occupational) pension scheme or a personal pension
- an indication of the amount of State Pension you may be able to get by using your late or former spouse's or civil partner's NI contributions, if this can be used to give you a better State Pension than using your own contributions
The State Pension age is currently 65 for men and 60 for women born on or before 5 April 1950. The State Pension age for women is going to rise to 65 between 2010 and 2020. If you are a woman born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1955 the age when you reach State Pension age will depend on your date of birth. From 6 April 2020 the State Pension age for women will be the same as it is for men. It will increase for both men and women from age 65 to 68 between 2024 and 2046.
Information you'll need to hand
You'll need certain information to hand when you contact the Pension Service:
- your National Insurance (NI) number (and your spouse's or civil partner's, if you're married or in a civil partnership)
- the types of NICs you're paying (this depends, for example, on whether you're employed or self-employed)
- details of any marriages, civil partnerships or annulments
- details of any time you've spent working abroad
- details of your current salary if you are paid by an employer (rather than self-employed)
How to get a State Pension forecast
Online
You can get an online State Pension forecast if you are more than four months away from your State Pension age.
If you're already registered with another government online service for individuals you can use your existing User ID and password to 'enrol' (sign up) for the State Pension forecast service right away.
If this is the first time you've used a government online service for individuals, you need to register for a State Pension forecast online, receive a 'User ID' on-screen and then wait to receive an 'Activation PIN' (personal identity number). This is sent through the post within seven days by the Government Gateway (the central registration service for online government services). You then need to activate the service within 28 days. (Your User ID is also sent separately by post.)
Why do you need to wait for an Activation PIN?
The Activation PIN is designed to protect you by ensuring complete security of the government's online services. Because it's sent to your home address (already held on file) the government can be sure that only you can activate the account.
To register and/or enrol for the online State Pension forecast follow either of the links below.
(Note that you only need to register for government online services for individuals once - you can then use your User ID to sign up for as many online services for individuals as you wish.)
By phone
You can ask for a State Pension forecast by calling the State Pension Forecasting Team. They'll fill out the form for you and will send you a forecast in the post in around 15 working days.
You can call the State Pension Forecasting Team on 0845 3000 168 (textphone 0845 3000 169). Lines are open 8.00 am to 8.00 pm Monday to Friday, and 9.00 am to 1.00 pm on Saturdays.
Application form
If you prefer, you can complete and return an application form (BR19). There are two ways to do this:
- download an application form from The Pension Service website, print it out, fill it in by hand and return it by post
- download an application form and fill it in on your own computer, print it out and return it by post
It may take around 15 working days to prepare your forecast from when your application is received.
Understanding your forecast
A leaflet that will help you understand your State Pension forecast will be sent with your forecast. It is also available online from The Pension Service website.
How to top up your State Pension
If, having received your forecast, you want to top up your State Pension you may be able to make voluntary NICs. This may be useful if you've missed paying contributions in some years, for example, because you weren't working, or were abroad. Details will be included in your forecast if this applies to you.
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