Daily Junction.mobi portalThe full state pension is £221.20 per week (£11,502 per year) in 2024-25, requiring 35 years of National Insurance contributions. Workplace pensions are mandatory for employees earning over £10,000, with minimum contributions of 8% (5% from you, 3% from employer). The state pension age is currently 66, rising to 67 by 2028 and 68 by the late 2030s. Pension experts recommend saving 15% of salary from age 30 to achieve a comfortable retirement income of £30,000-£40,000 per year. The pension triple lock guarantees the state pension rises by the highest of inflation, earnings growth, or 2.5%, costing £11 billion per year. The state pension alone is not enough for a comfortable retirement — you need workplace or private pensions to top up. Start saving early, contribute at least 15% of your salary, and do not opt out of your workplace pension. Check your state pension forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension, and use the Pension Tracing Service to find lost pensions. Retirement planning is boring, but it is essential. The earlier you start, the easier it is.