Research for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) suggests that around one in eight (12.5%) UK adults have never checked their state pension forecast. The survey, conducted for HMRC, found that people aged 45 to 54 are especially unlikely to have checked whether their state pension is on track.
The HMRC app lets users check their state pension forecast and, if eligible, top up their contributions. People can also visit gov.uk for more information about their state pension.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's chief customer officer, said: "Checking your forecast on the HMRC app takes just a few minutes but can make a real difference to how prepared you feel for the future."
HMRC commissioned Censuswide to survey over 5,200 people across the UK during February and March. The research was released to coincide with Pension Awareness Week, which runs from September 15 to 18.
Maike Currie, vice president of personal finance at PensionBee, said: "Checking your state pension forecast is good financial housekeeping at any age and helps you understand the foundation of your retirement income. Your 40s and 50s are an ideal time for a financial mid-life MOT, when retirement is coming into sharper focus but there's still time to act. You generally need 35 qualifying years for the full new state pension, and gaps can usually only be filled for the previous six tax years, so delaying could mean missing the opportunity to top up."
Charlotte Kennedy, chartered financial planner at Rathbones, said: "Many people view the state pension in isolation, but retirement income is built from several moving parts. The state pension provides an important foundation, but understanding how it works alongside your workplace pension, investments and savings is what turns retirement planning from guesswork into a plan. A quick check of your state pension forecast can give you a clearer picture of your future income and flag opportunities to improve it. The earlier you understand your position, the more options you typically have."
