Pension Awareness Week: Why Planning Ahead Matters

Last updated: 22 October 2026

Pension Awareness Week is an annual campaign, usually held in September, that encourages people across the UK to understand their pensions and plan for retirement. You don’t need to wait for it to take action. A pension check takes a few simple steps, from reading your latest statement to tracing old pots and checking your State Pension forecast.

Did you know that one in five UK adults has never reviewed their pension? (St. James’s Place Retirement Report 2025, 19% of 6,000 UK adults surveyed.) That means millions of people could be heading towards retirement without a clear picture of how much they have saved, or how far it will stretch. Pension Awareness Week exists to change that, giving people the knowledge, tools and confidence to plan.

What is Pension Awareness Week?

Pension Awareness Week is an annual campaign that brings together pension providers, employers and industry experts to encourage people to better understand their retirement savings. It usually runs in September, and includes Pension Awareness Day, whose organisers share catch-up videos and articles about pensions on their website.

Why do pensions matter for your financial wellbeing?

For many, retirement feels like a distant milestone, but the truth is that your pension is one of the most important parts of your long-term financial wellbeing. Planning can make the difference between having options and security in later life or facing tough choices. Even small contributions made consistently can grow over time, thanks to the power of compound growth. That’s why pension planning should never be left until “later”, because the earlier you engage, the greater the impact.

The value of your pension can fall as well as rise.

Why should younger people take notice?

One of the biggest myths about pensions is that they’re only something to worry about when you’re older. Younger employees have the most to gain from engaging early. With automatic enrolment, many are now included in workplace pension schemes by default, which is a positive step. Your employer must automatically enrol you if you’re aged between 22 and State Pension age, earn at least £10,000 a year and usually work in the UK.

However, just being opted in isn’t enough; it’s important to understand what’s being contributed, what employers are adding, and whether those contributions are enough to build the future you want.

By starting early, younger workers give themselves more time for their money to grow. Increasing contributions by even a small amount in your twenties or thirties can make a difference by the time you retire. Choosing not to engage now often means needing to save much more later to catch up, which can feel overwhelming when life’s other costs are pressing.

How do I check my pension?

You can do a pension check at any time of year. Here’s how:

1. Find your latest statements. Gather the most recent statement for each workplace or personal pension, or log in to your provider’s website or app.
2. Check what’s going in. In most automatic enrolment schemes, the total minimum contribution is 8% of your earnings between £6,240 and £50,270 a year, with at least 3% from your employer. Some schemes pay in more.
3. Check how it’s invested and what it costs. Your statement should show where your money is invested and the charges you pay.
4. Find any lost pensions. If you’ve changed jobs or moved house, use the government’s free Pension Tracing Service. It finds contact details for workplace and personal pension schemes; you’ll need the name of an employer or provider, and it won’t tell you whether you have a pension or what it’s worth.
5. Check your State Pension forecast. The government’s State Pension forecast shows how much State Pension you could get, when you can get it and whether you can increase it.
6. Get support. Our pensions team can help you plan for the retirement you want. MoneyHelper, backed by government, also offers free guidance on pensions.

The value of your pension can fall as well as rise.

What is changing with UK pensions?

Pension rules change over time, so it’s worth keeping up to date. Our guide to what the UK pension market overhaul means for you explains the latest reforms in plain English.

Why should employers provide pension education?

For employers, Pension Awareness Week is a valuable opportunity to support staff with their financial education. Pensions can be hard to understand. Not knowing how your pension works, what you’re entitled to, or how much you need to save for retirement can create financial stress, and stress impacts performance, wellbeing, and overall engagement at work.

By offering a financial wellbeing benefit with clear information, tools and workshops, such as the Lifetime app, employers can empower staff to make better financial decisions. It’s not just about retirement; it’s about creating a culture of trust and care, showing employees that their long-term security matters. In turn, this can strengthen loyalty and boost overall wellbeing.

What can you do during Pension Awareness Week?

Pensions don’t have to be overwhelming. With the right knowledge and support, they can become a cornerstone of financial confidence. For employees, Pension Awareness Week is the perfect chance to check in on your pension, review your contributions, and consider making small adjustments that could pay off in a big way later. For employers, it’s a reminder of the important role you play in helping your teams build a secure financial future.

Frequently asked questions

When is Pension Awareness Week?

It usually runs in September each year. The organisers confirm the exact dates nearer the time.

How do I find a lost pension?

Use the government’s free Pension Tracing Service. You’ll need the name of a former employer or pension provider.

How much should I pay into my pension?

Under automatic enrolment, most schemes have a total minimum of 8% of your earnings between £6,240 and £50,270 a year, including at least 3% from your employer. Whether that is enough depends on the retirement you want, so it’s worth reviewing.

How do I check my State Pension?

Get a free forecast on GOV.UK. It shows how much you could get, when, and whether you can increase it.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’d like support in understanding your pension and planning for the future, our advisers are here to help. Get in touch with us today!

If you’re an employer looking to better support your team with pension education and financial wellbeing, we’d love to show you how our benefit works. Book a demo today!

Written by Ione Morton, Marketing Executive at Lifetime

This article is general information, not personal financial advice. Lifetime is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 225795).