HMRC research released as part of Pension Awareness Week has shown 6.9 million adults have never checked their state pension forecast.
The figure equates to 12.5% of the population, and implies a large proportion of people do not know what their retirement income is on track to be.
HMRC also reported that 45-54 year-olds are the least likely age group to have checked, despite being nearer to retirement than most.
The researchers found common reasons for delaying the checks include feeling retirement is still too far away to think about (26%), worrying about losing track of pension pots from previous jobs (24%), and concerns about how career breaks might affect their entitlement (20%).
Some people said they do not know how to check their state pension (9.5%) or think it would be too complicated (5%), while 17% said they only think about their pension at major financial moments, such as the start of a new tax year.
Rob Hillock, head of personal financial planning at financial services consultancy Broadstone, said: “Understanding your state pension entitlement is one of the fundamental building blocks of retirement planning, so it is concerning that millions of people remain in the dark about what they are likely to receive.
“Checking your forecast can highlight any gaps in your national insurance record while there may still be time to address them.
“Armed with that information, savers can build a much clearer picture of how their state pension will combine with workplace pensions, private savings and investments, and whether they need to increase contributions to achieve the retirement they want.”
See also: ‘Third option’ for advice client portfolios gaining ground on MPS
