Deadline to fill gaps in your National Insurance records approaching

The clock is ticking on your chance to top up your National Insurance (NI) contributions and potentially increase your state pension.  

With the final deadline approaching, there is limited time to fill any gaps in your NI record and secure a higher pension payout in retirement. 

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued a reminder that the window to backdate contributions as far as 6 April 2006 will close on 5 April 2025.  

After that, you will only be able to make contributions for the previous six tax years. 

Missed contributions could impact your pension 

If there were periods in your life when you were not earning enough or were out of work, you will likely have gaps in your NI record.  

These gaps can directly affect how much state pension you are entitled to receive. 

But here is the good news: by making voluntary NI contributions, you can fill those gaps and increase your pension by up to £107.44 per week. 

Why National Insurance contributions matter 

The amount of state pension you will receive is based on the number of qualifying years of NI contributions you have made throughout your working life.  

You can also earn qualifying years through NI credits if you were unemployed or caring for someone. 

If you reached state pension age before 6 April 2016, you will need 30 qualifying years to claim the full basic state pension.  

Fewer than 30 years means you will receive less. 

For those under the new state pension rules (if you reached state pension age on or after 6 April 2016), the requirements are more demanding.  

You will need at least 10 qualifying years to get anything at all, and 35 qualifying years to receive the full amount, which is currently £203.85 per week. 

When is the deadline? 

The ability to make up for missed contributions dating back to 2006 is only temporary.  

After 5 April 2025, the window closes, and you will only be able to fill in gaps from the past six tax years.  

This means any missing contributions between 2006 and 2018 will no longer be eligible for top-up payments. 

So far, more than 10,000 people have taken advantage of this scheme in the 2024/25 tax year, contributing £12.5 million to boost their future pensions.  

On average, individuals added £1,193 to their records, securing an increase to their retirement income. 

How to check your NI record 

It’s easy to see if you have any gaps in your NI record.  

Use the state pension forecast tool on the Government’s website to find out how many qualifying years you currently have and whether you need to make any voluntary contributions. 

If you decide to top up your contributions, you can do so quickly and easily through HMRC’s digital service. 

Even adding just one extra qualifying year can make a difference to your weekly state pension, so it is worth checking your record before the deadline. 

Get in touch with us today to explore how voluntary NI contributions could increase your retirement income and secure a more comfortable future. 

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