Many people approaching retirement are unclear about changes to state pensions, according to research from Which?

From Wednesday, the new state pension system will take effect, affecting people reaching retirement age on or after April 6.

Which? found that more than two-thirds (68%) of 50 to 64-year-olds are aware the changes are coming in, rising to 80% of those aged between 60 and 64.

But many people were unclear on the details of how the new system will work. Some 44% of people did not know what the full rate of the new state pension will be from April 6.

Usually people will need at least 10 years of qualifying National Insurance (NI) contributions to get any state pension.

Those 'contracted out' of additional state pension by paying less NI contributions, even for a short time, could leave people with smaller state payments than they were expecting.

Which? found only 18% of the 1,000 surveyed knew if they had ever been contracted out of the state pension.

Which? has produced a state pension guide to explain how the changes will affect people which includes a state pension age calculator.

Pensions Minster Ros Altmann, said: "It is vital that people check what their state pension is likely to be, especially when planning their future later life income.

"The government is introducing a new state pension system which will be easier to understand and a new digital online individual state pension forecast will be available to make things much easier.

"This is in public testing now and in the meantime anyone over age 50 can get a written statement showing their estimated state pension."

Gareth Shaw, head of consumer affairs at Saga Investment Services, said: "The current system is horribly complicated, and the new single-tier will eventually wave away this complexity.

"But today's generation of state pensioners need more help understanding what they're entitled to."