Thousands of people top up National Insurance records to maximise
State Pensions.
- Only two months left to boost State Pension by filling gaps
in National Insurance records from 2006 onwards
- Since the launch of the digital service last April, 37,000
people have topped up more than 68,000 years, worth £35 million
People wanting to maximise their State Pension by plugging gaps
in their National Insurance record have contributed to a total of
68,673 years, worth £35 million, using the online service since
April last year HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed.
Analysis of the digital service has shown:
- more than 37,000 online payments have been made through the
service
- 65% of the years topped up by customers are from 2017
onwards
- the average online top-up payment is £1,835
- the largest weekly State Pension increase is £113.76
HMRC and Department
for Work and Pensions (DWP) are reminding
customers they only have 2 months up until 5 April to check their
National Insurance record and fill any gaps from 6 April 2006
onwards.
From 6 April 2025, people will only be able to make voluntary
National Insurance contributions for the previous 6 tax years, in
line with normal time limits.
The Check your State Pension
forecast service on GOV.UK is the quickest and easiest way
customers can check what their pension will be in retirement and
take action if they need to. People can also use the HMRC app to check their State
Pension forecast.
Angela MacDonald, HMRC's Second Permanent Secretary
and Deputy Chief Executive, said:
There are just 2 months left to check and fill any gaps in your
National Insurance record from 2006 onwards to boost your State
Pension entitlement. Don't delay - it is quick and easy to check
your National Insurance record on GOV.UK and it could help your
finances in retirement.
Since the launch of the enhanced digital service in April last
year, more than 4.3 million people have used it to check their
State Pension forecast. The end-to-end service means customers
can also use it to check and view gaps in their National
Insurance record, calculate the difference any payment will make
to their State Pension and then make one payment for however many
years they need to top up.
Everyone should be aware of the risk of falling victim to scams
and should never share their HMRC login details with anyone.
HMRC scams advice is
available on GOV.UK.
Further information
More information on voluntary National
Insurance contributions
Customers should check if they can get National Insurance
credits before they look into paying voluntary contributions
Men born after 6 April 1951 or women born after 6 April 1953 are
eligible to make voluntary National Insurance contributions to
boost their new State Pension.
In 2023, the previous government extended the deadline to pay
voluntary NI contributions to 5 April 2025 for those affected by
new State Pension transitional arrangements. This covers tax
years from 6 April 2006 to 5 April 2018. The extended deadline
means that people now have more time to properly consider whether
paying voluntary contributions is right for them and ensures
no-one need miss out on the possibility of increasing their State
Pension.
Customers can usually pay voluntary contributions for the past 6
tax years. The deadline is 5 April each year.
The majority of customers of working age will be able to use the
online service, without needing to phone HMRC or DWP, including those
living abroad who want to pay voluntary contributions for years
they were resident in the UK. However, it is not currently
available to those who are already receiving their State Pension,
self-employed customers or customers currently living outside the
UK with gaps incurred while working abroad. They can continue to
manage their NICs as set out on GOV.UK.
HMRC app users can
also see their pension details at their fingertips including
their current potential retirement date as well as annual,
monthly and weekly forecasts as well as checking their NI record.
