Boost Your State Pension — Fill NI Gaps (~£950 → ~£7,000)

Overview

Gaps in your National Insurance (NI) record can leave you short of the full State Pension. You can often fill them with voluntary contributions — and the return can be huge: paying up to about £957 to buy one year adds around £358 a year (1/35th of the full £241.30-a-week new State Pension) — roughly £7,000 over a 20-year retirement, paying for itself in under 3 years.

How to Check & Do It

1. Click the link on this page to check your State Pension forecast and NI record on GOV.UK.
2. See whether you have gaps and whether filling them would actually increase your pension.
3. Check the free options first — you may be able to fill gaps with free NI credits (e.g. as an unpaid carer or while looking for work).
4. If buying is worthwhile, pay voluntary (Class 3) contributions through GOV.UK.

Requirements

• A UK National Insurance record with gaps.
• Usually most worthwhile if you're roughly 40–73 and won't otherwise reach the full State Pension.

Important Terms

• You can fill gaps for the last 6 tax years, with a deadline of 5 April each year — so 5 April 2027 is the last chance to fill 2020/21.
• Class 3 contributions are £18.40 a week (≈£957 a year) for 2026/27. Gaps in 2024/25 and 2025/26 are charged at their original rates (£17.45 and £17.75 a week); older years are charged at the current £18.40.
• It isn't right for everyone — buying years won't help if you'll already get the full pension, and a higher pension could mean slightly more tax. Always check your forecast first.

Tips

• Check the free credits route (carer's credit, etc.) before paying.
• The closer you are to pension age, the easier it is to judge whether it's worth it.
• Unsure? Call the Future Pension Centre (free) before paying — they'll confirm whether buying a year actually increases your pension.