Almost 7 million adults could be in the dark about their State Pension, with millions having never checked how much they could receive in retirement.
New HMRC research found that one in eight adults (12.5%) have never checked their State Pension forecast.
And the age group most likely to have never checked is those aged 45 to 54 – despite this being a key time for retirement planning.
HMRC is urging people to check their forecast during Pension Awareness Week, which runs from September 15 to 18.
The free HMRC app allows people to check their State Pension forecast, see whether they have gaps in their National Insurance record and, if eligible, make voluntary contributions to boost their entitlement.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Chief Customer Officer, said: “It's never too early, or too late, to check your State Pension forecast.”
She added: “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.”
“Whether retirement is decades away or just around the corner, I'd encourage everyone to check their forecast and see if there's anything they can do now to boost their entitlement later,” she said.
Why millions have never checked their State pension forecast
The HMRC research found that almost a third of people have already checked their State Pension using the HMRC app or online.
But for those who have not, there are several reasons for putting it off.
The most common was believing retirement was still too far away to think about, cited by 26%.
A further 24% were worried about losing track of pension pots from previous jobs, while 20% were concerned about how career breaks could affect their entitlement.
Other people said they simply did not know how to check their State Pension (9.5%) or thought it would be too complicated (5%).
Meanwhile, 17% said they only think about their pension at major financial moments, such as the start of a new tax year.
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How to check your State Pension
People can use the HMRC app to check their State Pension forecast and look for potential gaps in their National Insurance record.
Those who are eligible may also be able to make voluntary National Insurance contributions to improve their future entitlement.
The app also allows users to view information including their tax code, PAYE details, employment history and Self Assessment record.
HMRC is also encouraging people approaching retirement to use its Tax Confident website, which provides guidance on issues including how the State Pension is taxed, working while receiving a pension, and savings, investments and inheritance tax.
HMRC's research was based on a survey of 5,206 consumers, carried out between February 27 and March 12, 2026.
The 12.5% figure equates to approximately 6.9 million UK adults, based on a UK adult population of 55,022,253.
With retirement planning becoming increasingly important, HMRC is urging people not to wait until retirement is close before finding out what they could be entitled to.
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