Anxious to maximise State Pension

CollectedDriftwood

I have read many posts and associated replies on MSE.com on the subject of State Pension (SP.) NIC people were really helpful when I finally got through to request payment details and get my 18 digit reference. I was told to contact DWP to check if making payments for the back years would increase the amount of State Pension I am likely to receive. Like many others the furthest I have got with DWP after pressing options is 2 rings then number unobtainable. My forecast details are as follows and I would be very grateful if anyone could offer their opinion on the ultimate question of "to pay or not to pay" and if so which years?

1. Forecast if I contribute to 05.04.2023 is £169.09
2. Reach State Pension age in Month 7 2023-24 tax year
3. Current estimate based on contributions to April 2022 is £163.80
4. Have 42 full years, 39 of which are pre-2016 and 3 post-2016.
5. Recent Years not full are 2015-16, 2019-20 and 2020-21. Amount payable for each year is £163.80 as self-employed. I paid £6.30 to 'fill' 2018-19 2 weeks ago.
6. Three years up to 1980-81 are also not full but far too old to do anything about?
6. COPE £43.48 per week. I was contracted out for about 19 years in main Civil Service scheme.

Thanking everyone in eager anticipation of a reply.
       

p00hsticks

CollectedDriftwood said:

I have read many posts and associated replies on MSE.com on the subject of State Pension (SP.) NIC people were really helpful when I finally got through to request payment details and get my 18 digit reference. I was told to contact DWP to check if making payments for the back years would increase the amount of State Pension I am likely to receive. Like many others the furthest I have got with DWP after pressing options is 2 rings then number unobtainable. My forecast details are as follows and I would be very grateful if anyone could offer their opinion on the ultimate question of "to pay or not to pay" and if so which years?

1. Forecast if I contribute to 05.04.2023 is £169.09
2. Reach State Pension age in Month 7 2023-24 tax year
3. Current estimate based on contributions to April 2022 is £163.80
4. Have 42 full years, 39 of which are pre-2016 and 3 post-2016.
5. Recent Years not full are 2015-16, 2019-20 and 2020-21. Amount payable for each year is £163.80 as self-employed. I paid £6.30 to 'fill' 2018-19 2 weeks ago.
6. Three years up to 1980-81 are also not full but far too old to do anything about?
6. COPE £43.48 per week. I was contracted out for about 19 years in main Civil Service scheme.

Thanking everyone in eager anticipation of a reply.
       

5. No point paying 2015-16 as with 39 pre-2016 years already it won't increase your forecast 
6. Yes, far too late to make up anything prior to 2006-7

I'm assuming that the forecast isn't yet reflecting that you've now filled 2018-19 ?
 in which case you can add £5.29 to the current estimate, taking you to £169.09. 

Buying 2019-20 and 2020-21 would then take you up to £179.67 and the current year 2022-3 to £184.96, just 19p short of the maximum 

CollectedDriftwood

Many thanks for your help. Now have the problem of paying the later two years without one being allocated to 2015-16 as I only have one reference number. Big pot of tea and ring the NIC people again?