Pension Forecast Help, Please

[barry1010]

My neighbour has just received her pension forecast and has asked me for advice but i am not confident that I'm right. She has tried phoning them but is kept on hold.

It says in bold £x a week is the most you can get.
Underneath it says 'You cannot improve your forecast any more.'

She wants to know if she make additional voluntary payments to increase her pension, as Martin Lewis has been advising people to do for some time.

I don't think she can but need to be sure.

[youngmafbog]

I assume you mean the State Pension? I believe if you are at the max you cant increase it. Is that what you mean?

Did she do this on-line?

[youngmafbog]

Sometimes it is better to keep quiet and be thought a foll rather than open ones trap and remove all doubt.

Totally uncalled for post.

[KristalBee]

What this means is that even if she paid more into the pension at this point her weekly amount on retirement would remain the maximum payment. If she wants to defer her pension she can do so ,and the amount will rise. The amounts she could receive are shown on the HMRC web-site.

[KristalBee]

https://www.gov.uk/deferring-state-pension/what-you-get#:~:text=Higher%20weekly%20payments-,Your%20State%20Pension%20will%20increase%20every%20week%20you%20defer%2C%20as,your%20regular%20State%20Pension%20payment.

[barry1010]

young, she applied for her pension forecast from the gov.uk website online and it came through the post.

Thanks, Kristal.

I didn't see the removed post.

[Buenchico]

As I was nearing the date when I would become eligible to receive my state pension, I phoned the helpline to enquire about making voluntary contributions. I was told that I could do so if I wished but, as my State Pension was already at the maximum level, there would be no actual benefit from doing so. (Unsurprisingly, I didn't bother to make any contributions!).

Your neighbour would seem to be in a similar situation. i.e. even if there are gaps in her pension record, where should could make additional contributions if she wanted to, there would be actual no benefit to be gained from her doing so.

[barry1010]

Thanks all, I was 90% sure that she couldn't enhance her pension but it would have been terrible if I were wrong. It's always good to double check.

Apparently the phone lines have been overwhelmed for weeks with many people trying to get the same information about pension top-ups.
I appreciate all the help I get here :)