Why so many people don’t check their pension

For many people, a pension is something to deal with later down the line. If you’re one of them, don’t worry – it’s easy to get things back on track.

Many people neglect to check their pension. Sometimes, that’s simply because they’re not in the habit of checking, so it’s not something that routinely occurs to them to do. 

Other times, though, it’s because checking feels overwhelming – either because of fear and uncertainty, or due to the perceived administrative burden. 

Fortunately, a few simple steps can make these barriers easy to overcome. We’ll cover them a little later on in this article.

How checking your pension can help

When you’re equipped with the facts, you’re more empowered to make better decisions about your future. Checking your pension often can help you feel more confident, and makes things a lot easier to manage. 

For example, regularly reviewing your pension helps you answer these questions:

Am I on track for the lifestyle I want?

Tools like our Retirement Income Tool help  you find out how much your pension could be worth in retirement, based on your current level of pension contributions. This doesn’t need to be a surprise you find out just before you retire – it can be really helpful to have a general understanding of your anticipated pension amount sooner. 

You might find you’re already on track for the lifestyle you want in retirement, which can be really reassuring. Or, you might find things aren’t quite where you want them to be - a helpful discovery that lets you know what changes you need to make. 

Am I taking enough risk?

Checking your pension lets you understand the level of risk you’re currently taking, and whether that approach is right for you. 

Although returns are never guaranteed, and your investments could go down as well as up, taking more risk can increase the potential for higher returns. 

Depending on your pension plan, you might be able to review or change how your pension’s invested through your online account.  

Do I know where all my pensions are located?

Many people have multiple pension pots due to having changed employers throughout their careers. If you don’t regularly check your pension, it’s easy to lose track of where each pot is located, which could mean you don’t claim the full amount you’ve built up for retirement. 

Knowing where your pensions are can make them easier to keep track of. You may also decide to combine all your pensions into a single pension pot, which can make things easier to manage. This isn’t right for everyone – it’s important to check each provider’s terms and conditions before making your decision. 

One simple habit

The longer we avoid checking our pension, the more daunting it feels to face. But you can get things back on track by forming this one simple habit. 

Once a month, take just five minutes to:

•    Check the current value of your pension 
•    See what you’re on track for using the Retirement Income Tool 
•    Assess whether you can afford to increase your contributions 

The more often you do this, the simpler things will be each time. 

You could combine checking your pension with other regular admin tasks, like paying your bills or checking your bank balance. And if you can add a cup of tea and a biscuit into the mix, all the better.

How to make accessing your pension easier over time

If it’s been a while since you’ve checked your pension, there are some things you can get out of the way now to make checking your pension even easier in the future. 

1.    Log in to your online account 

Log in to your account online or via the Standard Life app. 

If you haven’t registered for online access yet, you can easily do that by heading to standardlife.co.uk/register. You’ll need your plan number, which you’ll find on any letter we’ve sent you. 

If you don’t yet have the app, you can download it by searching ‘Standard Life’ in the App Store or Google Play Store.

2.    Access the dashboard 

Once you’re logged in, navigate to the dashboard to familiarise yourself with how everything works. You’ll see how much you have currently set aside and how your pension investments are performing. 

You can also see how much you make in regular contributions. 

3.    Explore Standard Life tools and resources

Explore some of our helpful tools, like our Pension Calculator, which lets you know how much you might need in retirement, and the Retirement Income Tool, which helps you understand the type of lifestyle you might be able to afford based on your current level of contributions. 

4.    Ask us a question 

After you’ve taken these steps, you might have some questions. That’s what we’re here for – visit our support page for FAQs and ways to get in touch.
 

More planning, more confidence

Although pensions can feel overwhelming, regularly checking your pension can help you feel more positive about your finances. We’re not just saying that – our research shows that people who report doing just “a little” planning feel more confident than those who haven’t done any.

If you’re ready to get started, take the first step and log in to your Standard Life account today.

The information here is based on our understanding in August 2026 and shouldn’t be taken as financial advice.

A pension plan is an investment. Its value can go down as well as up and could be worth less than was paid in.

Your own personal circumstances, including where you live in the UK, will have an impact on the tax you pay. Laws and tax rules may change in the future.

Standard Life accepts no responsibility for information on external websites. These are provided for general information.