Check your State Pension forecast and find lost pensions
Three free government tools do most of the work. Here is what each one tells you and what to do with the answer.
1. Your State Pension forecast
Shows what you are on track to get, when, and whether you can improve it. Needs a GOV.UK One Login or Government Gateway.
2. Your National Insurance record
Lists every year and flags gaps. You need 35 full years for the full new State Pension and at least 10 to get anything. You can usually pay to fill gaps from the last 6 tax years.
3. Lost workplace pensions
The Pension Tracing Service finds the contact details for any scheme you were in, by employer name. It does not tell you how much is in it; you ask the provider.
Reading your forecast
"Your forecast is £X a week" is what you get if you keep paying or being credited NI until your State Pension age. "Estimate based on your NI record up to 5 April 2026" is what you have earned so far. The gap between them is the years still to come.
Gaps you can fill. A full voluntary Class 3 year costs about £900 (2026/27) and adds about 1/35th of the full rate, roughly £6.90 a week, for life. Paying back a year normally pays for itself within about three years of retirement. Check with the Future Pension Centre first, because some gaps do not add anything.
Contracted out? If you were in a public sector or older company scheme before 2016, your starting amount may be lower than 35 years suggests. The forecast already accounts for this.
Already past State Pension age and never claimed?
The State Pension is not paid automatically. If you did not claim, you have been deferring, which earns extra (about 5.8% for each full year on the new State Pension). How to claim (gov.uk).
Find your old pensions
Most people have more than one workplace pension. The free government Pension Tracing Service finds the contact details. Consolidation services can then bring them into one pot, usually for a fee taken from the pot. Compare charges before moving anything, and never transfer a defined benefit pension without regulated advice.
Links to partners will appear here once agreements are in place. Until then: Pension Tracing Service (gov.uk) and check an adviser on the FCA register.
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