State pension: Britons urged to use simple forecaster to make sure they don't miss out on £9,000

Britons have been urged to use a simple forecaster to make sure they don’t run the risk of losing a total of £9,000.

Research carried out by Royal London discovered that almost a third of people intend to use their state pension as their main source of income when they retire.

Despite this, across the UK as much as £15billion worth of benefit money is not claimed every year.

Experts have urged people to check to see if they are eligible to receive more money.

Speaking to the Express, expert Sarah Pennells said: “The best way to maximise your state pension is by getting a state pension forecast online at the Government website. This is a great first step. It will show any gaps in your National Insurance contribution history.

“This will tell you how much state pension entitlement you’ve built up so far and how much you’re on track to get when you reach state pension age.”

From April state pension payments will rise by 10.1 per cent.

In Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement he announced that the triple lock would be protected despite many questions around how long it could be sustained.

Hunt said the Government will fulfil its pledge to protect the triple lock, meaning that the state pension will increase in line with inflation.

The full new state pension is currently £185.15 per week – so a 10.1 per cent increase would push that figure up to £203.85.

For those on the full, old basic state pension, who reached state pension age before April 2016, the increase means a weekly rise from £141.85 to £156.20.