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Topping up your state pension

Got questions about boosting your state pension by checking your record with the Future Pension Centre and making voluntary National Insurance contributions?

Anxious & Overwhelmed by NI deadline
Hi, I tried to get on top of this years ago, when my mental health took a nose dive, and I knew I wasn’t going to be working, but did not want to claim benefits (employment, or medical) due to the added stress, and my sense of shame / stigma - I just wanted to pay my NI contributions, and disappear off grid for a while.…
UK Government pension with less than 10 years credits: Possible or not?
As a non-UK national who has less than 10 years of NI contributions, can my friend obtain a reduced UK state pension in the future? Or does she need at least 10 years of contributions. She is from Poland and she is working back there now. She can top up to get 10 years of NI contributions. But if she doesnt, will she get…
Pension Advice (Missing Years)
I'll try to be brief. First thing is my wife had a baby 2013, and we claimed Chiuld Benefit for a few years before my wage went over the limit and I stopped claiming, I read though that she should be able to claim these years as missing as she was out of work looking after baby (I then read we could backdate a claim for…
Voluntary NI contributions for those who reached State Pension Age before 6th April 2016
This must surely be an error as I can’t make sense of it. If you reached State Pension Age before 6th April 2016 how can you possibly have gaps in your NI Record from 2016 to 2018?…
Do I need to pay all NI missing years for full state pension?
Apologies if I’m duplicating, but I’ve not found an answer to this question. I am worried about making the wrong decision re. topping up gaps in my NI contributions, and would be grateful if someone with more expertise in this area than me could offer advice. I am 60 and can draw my State Pension in 2031. I have…
Years I want to pay are not coming up on my options online
I want to pay the voluntary state pension top up for years 17/18/19 before the April 5th deadline but when I tick all the boxes and select my options online it gives me seven different options I can pay, but these include other years. How can I just pay these three specific years online? I can’t see an option for this!…
Paying NI for years before I moved to UK
My apologies if it's a silly questions - it may be an "edge case" or it may be a nonsense question. I am not a British citizen (yet) so the first time I was assigned an NI number was in 2014 when I moved over here, hence my NI records on the HMRC website begin from 2013-2014. Would it be possible to pay to fill years prior…
Desperate Sea Worker - NI Contributions Help Please
Desperately asking for help with missing NI Contributions.I work at sea and have done for several years. I have checked my NI contributions and am considering whether to pay those missing before the cut off date. However, these will be in excess of £10,000. I also have no immediate intention to live or work in the UK and…
To fill gaps or continue to contribute?
Hello, Hope someone can help. I have full missing years in 2007 and 2008 with a partial year in 2013. As of April 2024 my state pension is £111.68. The online portal says I need contribute for another 18 years for me to receive the full state pension and would be on track to receive £221.20. Currently, I'm in ill health…
What counts as a "government-approved training course"?
Don't know if anyone can answer this, but worth a try... I've read that you can claim NI credits if "You’re over 18 and on a government-approved training course that lasts no longer than 1 year but you were not sent by Jobcentre Plus". I have a partial year that I was about to top-up with voluntary contributions, but I…
It's impossible to contact HMRC to pay voluntary NI contributions, any ideas?
Hi, I need to pay a few years voluntary NI contributions from way back, before the deadline on April 5th. I've called multiple times, but the automated woman just says you can find info online, sorry we can't help you more right now and then ends the call. I can't find any way to be put on hold to speak to someone! I also…
Moved to Cyprus aged 25 in 2004. No full years UK NI Contributions. CF83 for Class 2 Contributions?
I'm looking for confirmation I've understood the NI38 / CF83 eligibility correct, allowing me to contribute Class 2 payments from 2006 onwards - below is my history. From the 1997/1998 period up until the 2003/2004 financial years I have 0 full years of paid contributions (year is not full) listed (all partial years, apart…
NI top up: registering interest to pay whilst disputing amount? Is there an address I can write to?
Hi folks, not for want of trying I'm having an absolute nightmare helping my partner sort his NI gaps out. There's 3 years they haven't allocated the payment to his account and it's sitting there in unallocated credit. There's then 8 years to pay at the £824.20 rate which I've been seeking advice on and it seems I'm…
Child benefit NI credits for part year
Hi, does anyone know what happens when your child turns 12 with regards to NI credits? I need 9 years to complete my NI record & my son turns 12 halfway through the 9th year. Does that count as a full year of class 3 credits or just a partial year? I’m trying to decide whether or not to pay the shortfall for a partial year…
Years Abroad - can I still do retroactive NI contribution
I was abroad for about 2.5 years. I missed some NI contributions in 2010/11, and all of 11/12 and 12/13. I clicked on the "Check if you can pay for gaps online", answered the questionnaire (I answered yes to I was living abroad)" and now I am waiting for a call back from the Future Pensions helpline - could take 8 weeks…
Is it worth buying preemptively?
Huge apologies if this has already been clarified but I have been reading for days and I still am not clear on my situation. I am not a UK national but lived here first in 1999, when I worked and got my NIN. I went back home but I came back in 2009 and have remained since, with indefinite leave to remain status. I have…
Paul Lewis on Topping up your pension
Quite a good explanation from Paul Lewis here on why you may need more than 35 years to get a full state pension I don’t get full state pension though I paid in 46 years of NI – why? Paul Lewis replies
National Insurance Records - still not up to date
I paid on line, from the HMRC website, for some years of National Insurance on March 5th (2025). My records have not been updated and its three weeks later. It is supposed to only take 3 to 5 days according to the receipt. Does anyone else have this problem? Thanks in advance.
Self-employed Class 2 National Insurance voluntary payments confusion
I'm in my 40s and been registered self-employed since 2015 for my small crafting venture but haven't had to submit a self-assessment due to income under £1000. I've been looking at making voluntary national insurance contributions and was told by HMRC that I could pay 6 years (2018/19-2023/24) at the Class 2 rate but for…
Is this missing year worth buying?
I've been claiming state pension since 2021. After many confusing/contradicting discussions with HMRC/DWP, I find I have a shortfall (£5.40 per week) corresponding with one year's missing NICs for 2018/19, the amount to pay being £824. (During this period I was ill and we were on Pension Credit but I did not claim…

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Topping up your state pension

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