Class 2 NI

Warrior101

Hi,

I’m currently in employment but I am looking to start my own business soon and leave my current employment. I have read that you do not need to pay NI if you do not earn enough money....which I don’t think I will do, especially to begin with. However, I really want to pay voluntary class 2 payments - is this possible? I don’t want to lose out on my contributing years towards my state pension. I understand that you can fill in the gaps afterwards but I want to keep the other benefits like maternity allowance.
If voluntary class 2 NI is possible, I have another question! I have been trying for a baby for a few years now and am going for ivf at the end of the year (hence me leaving my stressful job and not wanting to get another job somewhere else at the moment). If by some miracle I do fall pregnant, but it’s not until this time next year say, will it still be possible to get maternity pay if I haven’t yet paid the voluntary NI bill? I have read that you don’t pay your NI bill until you pay your tax bill. Thanks in advance