Help with state pension forecast

caro69

Hi. 

Hubby and I have got ourselves confused and wonder if someone is someone who is familiar with State Pension Forecasts can point us in the right direction.

At the top it says "You can get your state pension on 22 January 2024"  Your forecast is £187.57 etc.  It then goes on to say "You cannot improve your forecast anymore".  It says he has 45 years of full contributions and 2 years when he did not pay enough and one year to contribute before 5th April 2023.

The two years in question is because he has not worked or claimed any benefits since 2020.  He has gaps for the year 2020 to 2021 (it says you can make up this shortfall by paying voluntary contribution of £244.80 by 5 April 2027).  And also a shortfall for 2021 to 2022 (voluntary contribution of £800.80 by 5th April 2028).  And of course he has not paid anything during 2022 to 2023.

So the million dollar question is does he need to pay these missing years to get the full pension of £187.57 per week or not?

Grateful for any pointers.

molerat

His forecast is above the current maximum of £185.15 so already above the maximum by April 2016 and has not increased it, except with the inflationary increases, since then.  There is nothing he needs to do to get that figure and paying any of those gap years will not increase it.

caro69

molerat said:

His forecast is above the current maximum of £185.15 so already above the maximum by April 2016 and has not increased it, except with the inflationary increases, since then.  There is nothing he needs to do to get that figure and paying any of those gap years will not increase it.

Thank you.  I took it that way at first but then with all the recent stuff going on I looked closer at the missing years and got into a pickle about those.  

Much appreciated.