Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has confirmed it no longer intends on writing to individuals confirming their State Pension entitlement.

Until 2016, members of some occupational schemes could opt out of the Second State Pension (formally called the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme) and pay a reduced rate of National Insurance. This was commonly referred to as ‘Contracting out’. Instead of receiving the Second State Pension they would receive an equivalent retirement income from their employer’s pension scheme.

Contracting out ceased in 2016 and HMRC commenced a reconciliation with the relevant pension schemes to ensure the records for these schemes and HMRC’s records agreed. This reconciliation is scheduled to be finalised at the end of 2018, at which time HMRC would write to individuals confirming their State Pension entitlement.

HMRC has now confirmed it will not issue these letters. Instead it is directing individuals to its online service which has been designed to help individuals find out:

• How much State Pension they could get (this amount is also known as your State Pension forecast);
• When they can get it (their State Pension Age); and
• How to increase it, if they can.

If you are unsure about your State Pension and would like more information, you can register at https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension.