How to validate State Pension Forecasts?

RoyOfBristol

Hi there

Is it possible to get state pension forecasts validated?
In 2006 I got an estimate that worked out to 68% of the then current state pension. I have been fully employed since that date and have been contracted in in the whole time. I recently obtained a new estimate but this time, despite my payment record, the estimate gave a figure that worked out to only 39% of the current state pension. The actual amount itself had also been reduced when I would have expected it to increase.

Having had several very long phone calls with HMRC and DWP pension people it seems my record has been corrupted somewhere. HMRC had me down as contracted-out even though I contracted-in from 2004 onwards. (The fact that no payment was being made to any contracted-out pension scheme merely "seems odd" to them!). I finally discovered from HMRC that, in fact, the details of a scheme I was in many years ago has "had its records deleted", leaving the records essentially corrupted. They have now "corrected" the record to show that I have been contracted-in and I will get a new forecast. But how can I validate that the new numbers are correct?

Can I, for example, assume that, after 31 years of being fully employed (of which 7 years were contracted-out) and my state second pension should be 24/30 of the state normal pension? Is there another way I can get a rough figure to compare with?

Given that I have had 2 wildly different forecasts to date, both based on what seems to be incorrect HMRC data and that DWP and HMRC seem incapable of working together, how can I be confident that the figures issued are correct? If they don't seem right to me what can I do?

When I asked DWP over the phone I was told "we issued some incorrect forecasts in 2006" so I shouldn't rely on them. If so, can I rely on any other numbers they issue?

Thanks for any help
Roy

xylophone

Are you a man born on or after 6 April 1945? Do you have at least 30 "qualifying years"? If so you are entitled to the full basic state pension. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/pensionsandretirementplanning/statepension/index.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2955863/Understanding-the-state-pension-scheme-20045.html An article from a few years back which will throw some light on the history of GP,SERPS,SP2.

RoyOfBristol

Hi
Sorry I wasn't clear enough.
I believe there is no question regarding my entitlement to the basic state pension - I have the full 30 years. My question relates only to the extremely variable numbers I have for my second state pension.
Thanks
Roy