State Pension forecast

Find the State Pension figure to use in your retirement plan

RetirementInSight does not guess your State Pension entitlement. Your amount depends on your National Insurance record and personal circumstances, so assuming everyone receives the full amount would make the projection less useful.

In the calculator, enter the annual State Pension amount you reasonably expect to receive and the age it starts. If you are using the official forecast, check whether the figure is already annual, weekly or monthly before entering it.

Where to get your State Pension forecast

The official GOV.UK State Pension forecast service tells you how much State Pension you could get, when you can get it, and whether you may be able to increase it. GOV.UK says you need to sign in to use the service, and you may be asked to prove your identity.

The forecast service is the most useful source for RetirementInSight because it is based on your own record, not a generic assumption.

Which figure should I enter?

GOV.UK may show more than one useful number, including what your record currently supports and what you could get if future contributions or credits improve your record. RetirementInSight expects the annual amount you want to model as the State Pension you reasonably expect to receive.

If your forecast shows a lower current amount and a higher possible amount, use the one that matches the scenario you are testing. The important thing is not to replace a lower forecast with the full-rate figure simply because the full rate exists.

State Pension age

Enter the age at which you expect State Pension to begin. State Pension age can depend on date of birth and rules can change, so use the official State Pension age checker where possible.

The calculator treats State Pension as starting only when the age you enter has been reached. If you retire earlier, spending before that age must be covered by other income, savings or private pensions.

Why everyone does not receive the same amount

State Pension entitlement can differ because of National Insurance qualifying years, gaps in contributions or credits, historical pre-2016 rules, contracting-out history and protected payments. These details are why RetirementInSight does not try to recreate the Department for Work and Pensions calculation.

Full New State Pension

The full rate of the new State Pension in 2026/27 is £241.30 a week, or about £12,548 a year. This is a reference maximum, not a RetirementInSight default and not a promise that every user will receive it.

What if my forecast is lower than the full amount?

A lower forecast is not automatically an error. It may reflect gaps in your National Insurance record, future qualifying years that have not yet been added, or historical rules such as contracting out.

For the calculator, use the forecast amount you think is reasonable for the scenario you want to test. Avoid replacing it with the full rate unless that is genuinely the figure you want to model.

What if I can improve my forecast?

GOV.UK says some people may be able to increase their State Pension through future qualifying years or voluntary National Insurance contributions, depending on circumstances. You can check your National Insurance record to see gaps and whether voluntary contributions may change your forecast.

RetirementInSight does not provide personalised advice on buying National Insurance years. Use the amount from the official forecast that reflects the situation you reasonably expect.

What if I am already receiving State Pension?

If State Pension is already in payment, enter the annual amount you receive and an age that is at or before your current age. The engine treats State Pension with a start age before current age as already in payment, and the calculator can continue from there.

How State Pension changes a retirement plan

State Pension timing matters because retirement cashflow often has phases. Someone might stop work at 58 but not receive State Pension until several years later. During that period, more spending may need to come from savings or private pensions.

This can create an income gap before your later pensions start. It is related to, but different from, a pension access bridge, which is about private pension money not being accessible yet.

A simple example

Imagine someone retires at 60, wants about £2,500 a month in today's money, and can access a private pension. If their State Pension starts later, withdrawals from savings or their private pension may be higher in the first years and lower once State Pension begins.

This does not mean State Pension makes a plan guaranteed. It means the timing and amount can materially change how much needs to come from private assets.

Why RetirementInSight asks for your own forecast

Asking for your official forecast gives the calculator a better starting point than assuming everyone receives the same amount. It also keeps RetirementInSight focused on retirement cashflow rather than trying to become a State Pension entitlement calculator.

How to enter it in RetirementInSight

1. Open the retirement calculator.
2. Go to the Pension income later step.
3. Enter your expected annual State Pension amount.
4. Enter the age your State Pension starts.
5. In couple mode, repeat this separately for your partner.

Use your State Pension forecast in the retirement calculator.

Couple mode

State Pension is individual, not household-level. Partners should enter separate forecasts because the amounts and start ages may differ. RetirementInSight then models each person's State Pension separately while using shared household spending.

Common mistakes

• Entering the full rate when your own forecast is lower.
• Entering a monthly amount when the calculator asks for annual.
• Assuming State Pension starts as soon as you retire.
• Entering one combined State Pension amount for a couple.
• Forgetting to update an old forecast later.