Do I need to continue paying NI if I retire early?

gardeningjax

I'm self-employed, doing energetic manual work which I won't be able to continue until state pension age of 67.  I'm 57 y/o now, and I'd like to retire when I'm 60-ish.  I have checked with gov.uk and found I have 38 years of NI contributions.  If I retire early, do I need to continue paying NI contributions until my state pension age?

p00hsticks

You don't NEED to but you may WANT to, in order to boost your state pension.

As you are under transitional rules, the number of NI years is less important than what you State Pension forecast actually says.

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

that will tell you if you need to still contribute in order to ontain the maximum state pension.

gardeningjax

Thank you, I'll do that

p00hsticks

gardeningjax said:

Thank you, I'll do that

If you're unsure how to interpret it when you get it, come back here and post up what it says and people will be able to say if it'll be beneficial for you to  make voluntary contributions going forward after you give up work.