Should I top up my state pension?

doglady3

I was a nurse in the NHS from 1983 to 2019. I left and haven't worked since. I was born in 1963. I have a NHS pension. I don't know whether to top up my state pension or not. I find it all very confusing.  Any simple advice would be much appreciated,  thank you.

TadleyBaggie

What does your state pension forecast say, without some details no one can help you. 

p00hsticks

TadleyBaggie said:

What does your state pension forecast say, without some details no one can help you. 

Check your State Pension forecast - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

molerat

If you post up the following few anonymous details from your forecast and NI record someone will give you detailed pointers

Current weekly £££.pp amount accrued up to April 2023 or 2024, some have been updated so please specify.
Number of full NI years 15-16 and earlier
Number of full NI years 16-17 and later
Tax year you reach state retirement
Any COPE amount shown, in a click link in "You've been in a contracted-out pension scheme", if there is one.
Years which show not full and prices

Brie

Agree that as the other suggest - check your SP forecast.  

Then put that with your NHS pension and consider whether that will be sufficient to live on when you are 67.  

Do you have spare cash you could use to buy more years in the SP?  Do you think you have a life expectancy that buying more years will be a good use of your money?

If your expenses are very low and you're ticking along ok on your savings or by taking the NHS pension early then the SP is just going to be jam on top of that.  So do you want just jam or do you want cream and a cherry on top too?