State Pension Forecast

Oranda

p00hsticks said:

I've just had a look but can still see my forecast, despite having put in a claim a few weeks ago and had the letter back telling me how much to expect when I reach SPA early next year..

Thank you. Seems mine might be an odd case. Will call them tomorrow. 

Oranda

Called them this morning and the lady said that they couldn’t post me a forecast as my record has gone away for “manual calculation”. Goodness knows where it’s gone, the lady couldn’t tell me any more or when I might get it, I’ve just got to wait apparently and there is no other department that I can speak to.

n15h

Sounds similar to what my dad is going through to get his state pension forecast. He is 70 years old and had 1 year of NI contributions but was able to backfill an extra 14 years this year (Jan 2025) and then become eligible for state pension. Unfortunately he had unexpected health issues arise in January, and he has just recovered back to good health in early October. He logged in online and couldn't see a forecast, so he called for his forecast at the end of October. He was told it would be sent out the next working day and received in a few days. He spoke to 2 different agents on the same day (call 1 in the morning, and call 2 in the afternoon) to check this was correct.

3 weeks have passed since those calls and no forecast has arrived. Called back again this week and he spoke to multiple people as he kept being given conflicting information. Some agents said they couldn't see a forecast was even requested, or if its been requested it isn't shown on the system but arrives the next day. Finally, an agent said they could see notes that a forecast was requested in October and this agent informed my dad that it takes 6 weeks to arrive. My dad also agreed for a code to be sent so he could apply online to apply for the state pension - albeit without a forecast at this point to even know what he could be getting.

There is no team/person available who can provide a forecast over the phone, and even if you speak to someone on the phone, there is just minimal/no confidence that the information you are being given, is correct. Even trying to complain just ends up in frustration. Its now a waiting game to hope his forecast turns up in the post, if it ever will, and to receive the code to apply online.

molerat

They will not supply a forecast over the phone especially once past SP age as that is a complex manual calculation only carried out by a small team.  This is different to OP's situation as theirs should be a simple automatic computer spits out a letter with the payments and dates on the same day as the application.  

A question for OP, have you ever been self employed and had periods when you have not paid class 2  - that is often a reason for manual calculations, does your NI record have any years showing as checking ? The other could be unrecorded contracted out service which only becomes apparent once the application is submitted - were you ever in a contracted out pension and did the forecast state that ?.

Oranda

molerat said:

They will not supply a forecast over the phone especially once past SP age as that is a complex manual calculation only carried out by a small team.  This is different to OP's situation as theirs should be a simple automatic computer spits out a letter with the payments and dates on the same day as the application.  

A question for OP, have you ever been self employed and had periods when you have not paid class 2  - that is often a reason for manual calculations, does your NI record have any years showing as checking ? The other could be unrecorded contracted out service which only becomes apparent once the application is submitted - were you ever in a contracted out pension and did the forecast state that ?.

Thanks for you post. If I did have a period of self employment, I would have paid my contributions. I was in a contacted out pension when it was the thing, and then contracted back in some years back. And there was the bit on forecast that I believe recognises that.

Will be very annoying if after regularly checking forecast and it was always was ok. And then now I’m actually applying they find some issue. Hope that isn’t the case. 

Marcon

Oranda said:

SacredStephan said:

Oranda said:

Approaching state retirement age (Feb 26).

Sorry to nitpick but it's the state pension age (SPA), not state retirement age. Your retirement date is not determined by the state.

I stand corrected. Do you have anything helpful to add?

OP's post was very helpful to the many who still confuse the point. 

Oranda

n15h said:

Sounds similar to what my dad is going through to get his state pension forecast. He is 70 years old and had 1 year of NI contributions but was able to backfill an extra 14 years this year (Jan 2025) and then become eligible for state pension. Unfortunately he had unexpected health issues arise in January, and he has just recovered back to good health in early October. He logged in online and couldn't see a forecast, so he called for his forecast at the end of October. He was told it would be sent out the next working day and received in a few days. He spoke to 2 different agents on the same day (call 1 in the morning, and call 2 in the afternoon) to check this was correct.

3 weeks have passed since those calls and no forecast has arrived. Called back again this week and he spoke to multiple people as he kept being given conflicting information. Some agents said they couldn't see a forecast was even requested, or if its been requested it isn't shown on the system but arrives the next day. Finally, an agent said they could see notes that a forecast was requested in October and this agent informed my dad that it takes 6 weeks to arrive. My dad also agreed for a code to be sent so he could apply online to apply for the state pension - albeit without a forecast at this point to even know what he could be getting.

There is no team/person available who can provide a forecast over the phone, and even if you speak to someone on the phone, there is just minimal/no confidence that the information you are being given, is correct. Even trying to complain just ends up in frustration. Its now a waiting game to hope his forecast turns up in the post, if it ever will, and to receive the code to apply online.

Hope your Dad gets a resolution soon.