Do you lose and years of contribution if you retire before state pension age?

Audaxer

Vininaspin said:

I should mention it states I have paid 34 years in full but have to complete a further 4 to receive maximum state pension. 

Your pension forecast should show a how a figure against a line that says "Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2022". If that figure is around £164, then 4 extra years of NI payments should get you to the maximum, as each extra year currently increases your forecast by £5.29.

Vininaspin

pinnks said:

That is from your NI record, not your pension forecast.  You should get the latter from GOV UK (e.g. through your Personal Tax Account) as that will tell you how much pension your NI record will lead to at 5 April 2022.  From that you can establish how many more years you need to pay to achieve the £185.15 max.
 

Thanks. I did get my pension forecast through my account on HMRC gov website. As stated, it forecasts up to end April 2022 (which isn’t maximum pension) and then states if I contribute another 4yrs until ImApril 2037 then I will reach the maximum (£185.15). I hope this is what you were referencing that I should take note of. 

pinnks

It was.  As others have said, if your forecast to April 2022 is showing roughly £164 and says that with 4 more qualifying years you will reach the max £185, then, if you are planning on working and paying NIC for 4 more years between 2022/23 and when you plan to retire, there is no point looking at any earlier gaps.  

enthusiasticsaver

If you intend working at least another 4 years you should reach full state pension then.  I retired at 58 and due to being contracted out for part of my working life was 4 years short.  I do some childcare for my grandchildren though so have claimed 2 years childcare credits already and will be claiming for 22/23 and 23/24 too prior to my state pension retirement date in 2026. Just ignore the earlier gaps.