Check your State Pension forecast

Use your calculator result as a planning estimate, then check the official amount and options tied to your National Insurance record.

Official DWP and HMRC route

Check your State Pension forecast on GOV.UK

Open the official forecast service →

Choose the right way to get a forecast

Online or HMRC app

Usually the quickest route. Sign in and complete any identity check requested by the service.

BR19 by post

Available if you are more than 30 days from State Pension age. Allow time for the postal response.

Already claiming or deferring

Contact the Pension Service, or the International Pension Centre if you live abroad.

From estimate to official forecast

1

Check your State Pension age

Confirm when you reach State Pension age, because the forecast service also shows the earliest date you can claim.
2

Sign in through GOV.UK

Create sign-in details if needed and complete the identity check requested by the official service.
3

Compare the current and maximum amounts

Note the forecast at your current record and the amount you could reach by adding qualifying years.
4

Inspect any proposed gap payment

Check your National Insurance record before paying. A gap does not always increase State Pension, so rely on the official personalised result.

Do not pay from an estimate alone

UKTax.tools does not access your National Insurance record. Confirm that a voluntary contribution will improve your pension through the official service or Future Pension Centre before paying HMRC.

Frequently asked questions

What does a State Pension forecast show?

The official forecast shows how much State Pension you could get, when you can get it, and whether and how you may be able to increase it. It uses your actual National Insurance record, so it is more authoritative than a general estimate.

Can I check my State Pension forecast online?

Yes. Sign in through the GOV.UK Check your State Pension service. You may be asked to prove your identity, normally using photo ID. You can also use the HMRC app.

Can I get a State Pension forecast by post?

Yes. If you will reach State Pension age in more than 30 days, GOV.UK says you can apply using form BR19 or call the Future Pension Centre to request a forecast by post.

Who cannot use the online forecast service?

GOV.UK says you cannot use it if you are already receiving your State Pension or if you have deferred claiming. Contact the Pension Service in the UK or the International Pension Centre if you live abroad.

Is a calculator result the same as an official forecast?

No. A calculator can illustrate the standard rules, but only the official service can use your complete National Insurance history, including contracted-out history and any record-specific adjustments.

Official sources

Related Calculators

State Pension Calculator

Project your UK State Pension based on NI qualifying years and the new flat-rate amount.

State Pension Age Calculator

Check exactly when you reach UK State Pension age based on your date of birth.

State Pension Top-Up Calculator

Estimate the cost, pension increase and payback period from filling eligible National Insurance gaps.

Learn More

State Pension and Tax: Is Your State Pension Taxable?

How the UK State Pension is taxed, why you might owe tax on it, and how HMRC collects the tax through your tax code or Self Assessment.

Is Topping Up Your State Pension Worth It? Class 3 Voluntary NI ROI (2026/27)

Paying voluntary Class 3 National Insurance to fill gap years costs about £957 per year and adds roughly £359 a year to your State Pension — a payback of under three years. Here's how to decide.