National Insurance Record: Gap in 1 year, not sure why!

cluckvolt

Recently checked my NI record, and it is showing a gap (or year is not full) for year 2021-22. Although it was a bit of an odd year - I was only on a paid salary for part of the year (no P60 as I was not employed at the end of that tax year).
I'm still not sure why it's a gap - as that year I had paid more NI that the last previous few years together!

Wondering if I should make the shortfall payment (£154) now or not. Of course, I cannot get through to Future Pensions Centre to ask about it.

Here's some info of my situation - if someone could please comment I'd appreciate it.

• Forecast is £203.85 a week (the most I can get it says)

• Record:
• 32 years of full contributions
• 18 years to contribute before 5 April 2041
• 1 year when you did not contribute enough

• COPE estimate is £23.70 a week

Not sure if there's any other info I need to provide?

Thanks!

molerat

Is that the one and only amount shown on the forecast ?  Is there not an amount at April 2022 / 2023 ?

cluckvolt

molerat said:

Is that the one and only amount shown on the forecast ?  Is there not an amount at April 2022 / 2023 ?

Yes, that's the only gap on my NI report. 2022-23 shows 'Full year'.

The year with the gap, 2021-22, shows this on the report:

Year is not full

You have contributions from Paid employment: £1,227.44

You can make up the shortfall

Pay a voluntary contribution of £154 by 5 April 2028. This shortfall may increase after 5 April 2024.

molerat

I meant pension amount, there are often up to 3 different amounts.

Suhusa

What does it say in the 'assumes you'll contribute another X years' line? The only way I can see the part year become relevant is if you are planning to retire early but your forecast assumes you'll keep most of those 18 future years working. In that case the part year would be cheap to fill amd a no-brainer. But if you'd only need another handful of years filled that you're likely to work then I wouldn't worry about that part year as you'd get your full number of years* by working (or possibly credits).

* As you have a pre-2016 work history those likely won't be 35 years.

Sarahspangles

cluckvolt said:

molerat said:

Is that the one and only amount shown on the forecast ?  Is there not an amount at April 2022 / 2023 ?

Yes, that's the only gap on my NI report. 2022-23 shows 'Full year'.

The year with the gap, 2021-22, shows this on the report:

Year is not full

You have contributions from Paid employment: £1,227.44

You can make up the shortfall

Pay a voluntary contribution of £154 by 5 April 2028. This shortfall may increase after 5 April 2024.

You need to cut and paste the bit under 

You need to continue to contribute National Insurance to reach your forecast

that says

Forecast if you contribute another XX years before 5 April 20XX

The XX years bit (on mine anyway) is in small type - although it’s really important. If you’re 50 now and are likely to contribute that number of years before you reach State Pension Age then you don’t need to do anything about a part year.  The main ways to ‘contribute’ in each of the years that you need are to earn enough in a job to pay a trigger level of NI or to take on certain caring responsibilities that will give you credits.

cluckvolt

molerat said:

I meant pension amount, there are often up to 3 different amounts.

I assume this is from the state pension summary? This is the text shown (I've changed the day/month :

You can get your State Pension on 1 May 2041

Your forecast is £203.85 a week, £886.38 a month, £10,636.60 a year

Your forecast

• is not a guarantee and is based on the current law
• is based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2023
• does not include any increase due to inflation

£203.85 is the most you can get

You cannot improve your forecast any more.

If you’re working you may still need to pay National Insurance contributions until 1 May 2041 as they fund other state benefits and the NHS.

Your forecast may be different if there are any changes to your National Insurance information.

Proposed change to your State Pension age

You’ll reach State Pension age on 1 May 2041. Under government proposals this may increase by up to a year.

You’ve been in a contracted-out pension scheme

Like most people, you were contracted out of part of the State Pension.

molerat

You are already at the maximum.  Nothing you do will add or subtract from that figure.  You do not need that part year.

Sarahspangles

cluckvolt said:

molerat said:

I meant pension amount, there are often up to 3 different amounts.

I assume this is from the state pension summary?

What you’ve posted confirms that ‘your work is done’ and there’s no need to make up that year as it won’t increase the amount you receive in retirement.  My pension history is similar, there’s a year in the middle of a 36 year run of full years that’s not full but all I would get from topping it up is satisfaction

cluckvolt

molerat said:

You are already at the maximum.  Nothing you do will add or subtract from that figure.  You do not need that part year.

Oh okay! So I'm done, can stop work and wait for the full pension money to roll in now 🤣

Thanks

Suhusa

With that forecast you don't need to buy that part year. As you can't improve your forecast you'd throw money away if you bought the part year.