State pensions in the UK have been at the forefront of a lot of government changes and warnings in recent weeks.
For example, people have recently been notified that the deadline to add more money into their pot by voluntary National Insurance contributions has been extended from April 5 to July 31. This is important for those hoping to claim the full state pension for which you will need around 35 years of qualifying National Insurance contributions.
Meanwhile, a variety of pensions will receive an increased rate following the return of the state pension triple lock which was temporarily suspended due to the Covid pandemic. This means pensioners all over the country will see a 10.1 per cent rise which is in line with September 2022's CPI inflation rate.
Read more: DWP pension deadline extended giving people more time to boost payments - here's how
However, there are still many rules and confusing aspects surrounding state pensions, especially when big changes are being put in place. If you want to check your state pension to either see how much you could get, when you can access it, and which ways you can increase it read on below...
How to check your state pension online
Checking your state pensions is relatively easy if you have access to the internet. The government provides its own forecast portal here.
You will need to already have a Government Gateway ID before you can start. If you don't have one the website will ask you to sign up before checking your state pension.
It's important to note that you cannot use the service if you're already getting your State Pension or if you've deferred claiming it.
How to check your state pension by post
Applying online is the quickest option to get a forecast, however, if you're going to reach the state pension age in more than 30 days you can choose to either fill in a BR19 application form and send it by post or call the Future Pension Centre at 0800 731 0175 who will post a forecast to you directly.
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