Feeling unsure about the future of the State Pension?

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Right now, many people in the UK are feeling unsure about the future of the State Pension. To help, we’re laying out the facts and outlining some practical steps you can take to plan for the retirement you want.

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The State Pension is an amount paid to you on a regular basis by the government once you reach State Pension age. Currently that age is 66 – it will rise to 67 by 2028. But when we asked 6,000 people across the UK to share their views on the future of the State Pension, many expressed uncertainty.

Our Retirement Voice 2025 report found that just 51% of people in the UK believe the State Pension will be available for everyone when they reach State Pension age. A quarter don’t think the triple lock – which guarantees annual increases – will be in place when they retire, and a third expect the State Pension age to rise to 70 or above by 2030.

What’s causing this uncertainty, and should you be worried about the future of the State Pension?

Although it’s natural to feel concerned about anything that could impact your long-term finances, there’s no indication that major changes to the State Pension will happen in the near future.

The government has committed to giving at least 10 years’ notice before making any State Pension age changes, meaning an increase above age 67 before 2030 is highly unlikely. Additionally, the government reconfirmed its commitment to the triple lock in the Autumn 2025 budget.

That said, getting to know more about the State Pension and other pension options can help you plan confidently for the future, so you’re more prepared for retirement.

Three steps you can take to feel more confident about your retirement

1. Understand the State Pension

Not everyone knows how much they’ll receive from the State Pension, or how the system works. A lack of understanding can cause unnecessary concern. Learning more about the State Pension and how it works can help to bring peace of mind.

Usually, to qualify for the full State Pension – currently £230.25 a week – you must make a minimum of 35 qualifying years’ worth of National Insurance contributions before you retire.

It’s a good idea to check your State Pension forecast to find out whether you’re on track to receive the full amount. If you’re not, you may be able to boost your payments with National Insurance credits or voluntary NI contributions.

2. Explore more ways to save

The State Pension alone may not be enough to cover your living expenses in retirement. According to the Retirement LivingStandards by Pensions UK, a minimum standard of living in retirement might cost £13,400 for a one-person household. But the full State Pension is currently only £11,973 per year. That means most people will need to supplement their income with money from other sources.

Many people use a personal pension plan (that’s a pension plan they’ve set up themselves) or a workplace pension (set up by their employer).

If you’re using a pension plan to invest money for your future, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on how it’s doing. You can check the value of your Standard Life plan online or via our app. And remember, you can see our support page for FAQs and ways to get in touch.

You can also use our pension calculator to see if you’re on track for the lifestyle you want in the future.

You could consider paying more into your Standard Life plan, if that’s right for you. You can usually do this online or through our app. If your employer set up your plan and you want to pay more in, you could speak to them about how it works for you.

Planning ahead for retirement can help relieve financial concerns. There are many resources that you can use to help you prepare, like our retirement hub.

3. Get updates from reliable sources

While no major reforms to the State Pension have been announced, changes do happen. For example, the Chancellor announced that the State Pension will rise by 4.8% in April 2026.

Keeping up to date with State Pension policy can help you separate fact from fiction, giving you a more realistic understanding of what the future holds. Make sure your information comes from a credible source. You can check the GOV.UK website for the latest official updates, while impartial services like MoneyHelper provide further insight.

And when changes to the State Pension happen, we’ll let you know right here on MoneyPlus.

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

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.

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