State Pension Years

cldxc32

Sorry if this will appear in the wrong forum but couldn't find one for state pensions. Admins Please feel free to put in correct forum
My situation is this.
Aged 57, married.
Worked 37 years with full contributions.
Now living in Portugal since 2017, with company pension and UK house rental incomes, not intending to work in either UK or Portugal.
Advised that full pension is payable when 67 as I had the minimum 35 years.
Checking the gov.uk website today it now says I have a £23/week shortfall. This an be rectified by £800 year for £5 week extra.
Questions...
Why if I have the minimum qualifying years do I now need to pay to top-up my state pension?
Do I have to pay the top-up EVERY year until I am 67 to maintain full pension?
In my case, retired 15 years early so would need to pay 15 x £800+ to receive the maximum pension
Thanks in advance for your replies

sammyjammy

£23 a week shortfall is around 4 or 5 years not 15 years. the 35 years only applies to those who started work for the first time since 2016, everyone else will be on a transition between new and old.

yp70479

When you were working was your company pension scheme "contracted out"? This meant you paid reduced NI contributions. Most firms contracted back in around 2010/11 when the gov changed the "pension freedoms", but you may be short because of the years you spent contracted out. Best thing to do is to talk to the Future Pensions Center  (0800 731 0181). They can advise you how many years you would need to pay to make up the difference.
I did it this morning. I retired at 55 in 2018 and had spent a lot of time in company pension schemes that were contracted out. Like you I had paid National Insurance for more than the qualifying period, but  needed to pay more to get full pension. Technically I was 4 years short, but the lady on the phone said the fourth year would only add 61p to my pension, and advised me to pay 3 years. If you need to do it  - do it now- rules change at the end of March and how much you have to pay for each year goes up! Be prepared to hang on the phone for a good 30 mins! Good luck!