NI contributions -> State Pension - How many years?

Robwales

Hi - i just checked my wife and  my details on the HMRC webpage... and im not sure i quite understand it

i thought we needed 35 qualifying years to get the full SP (£179.60)

My NI records show i have 29 years contributed to date - hence i assume i need another 6

But the HMRCs other page on Pension forecast page says i currently have £169.11, and need to do another 3 more years to get the £179.60

Which is it..3 or 6?

Same for my wife - she has 26 qualifying years...but the HMRC forecast says she will need just 6 more years to extend her current £150.36 to the full £179.60

I know NI questions are a regular query - so apologise if im being a bit daft.

PS
for any future years (if i elect to retire early) - i guess we can voluntarily pay...there is no cap on the number of years you can pay to make up shortfall?

Thanks a lot
Rob

MX5huggy

You need 35 years from 2016 to get the new state pension, everybody else is on transition arrangements that are too complicated to workout. The site says you need 3 therefore you need 3. 

Robwales

Thanks for the quick response!