B,
firstly, I hope you see this as good news as many do. It is a difficult and worrying time and I hope it is not patronising to say that you may find that you enjoy the future far more than you have enjoyed the recent past. Of course I don't know your financial position nor how much you enjoy your work (some do!). Much depends upon that.
I have chosen to interpret my redundancy with pension starting as early retirement (you may have noticed from my posts!) and I do not pay NI or pension contributions or higher rate tax. Consequently my net is not hugely reduced.
You should ask for a State Pension Forecast (form BR19) but remember that the contribution requirement is to be (has been?) relaxed so it is likely that if you have a shortfall then there is no point in making it up.
Good luck.
john
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