NI Contributions

xylophone

Have you tried here

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

See example here

https://www.which.co.uk/money/pensions-and-retirement/state-pension/your-state-pension-forecast-explained-aHd0S6f725a9

molerat

This stuff, the important bit being circled

Sarahspangles

@MouldyOldDough You mentioned 

My state pension forcast is just £158

It’s all the detail on that page that is needed.

p00hsticks

MouldyOldDough said:

My state pension forcast is just £158

it was £144 but I was credited with the last 12 months based on an empty ESA claim

That doesn't make sense - an additional  years NI will adds 1/35th of the new state pension amount (so currently £5.24) to your forecast, so certainly wouldn't increase it by as much as  £14. As others have said, you really need to give the precise figures from your forecast for people t obe able to help. . 

MouldyOldDough

Found it !!

Contracted Out Pension Equivalent (COPE)

Your COPE estimate is £53.65 a week

So if I get my NI paid until 2030 (7 years) - I should receive a full state pension ?

p00hsticks

MouldyOldDough said:

So if I get my NI paid until 2030 (7 years) - I should receive a full state pension ?

Yes, you should.

molerat

As the forecast clearly shows you need another 7 years to get the max.  You have 7 more years left before retirement and if you expect to receive benefit credits until then there is nothing you need to do. You could pay for each year going forward. Or pay for any part filled years 2016-17 and later.  2015-16 and earlier will not add to your pension.

Sarahspangles

Presumably your big birthday is after 5th April 2030, as you don’t get credited in the year in which your birthday falls, and that date is the end of your required year 7. I think that, if you might sneak off for an early bath before then, you’d need to see if there’s a year you can buy as described above.

MouldyOldDough

So the COPE is irrelevant ?

p00hsticks

MouldyOldDough said:

So the COPE is irrelevant ?

THe COPE figure was used just once, in the calculation of your 'starting amount' at the introduction of the new State Pension in 2016 (which was the higher of the two amounts under the old and new rules based on your record up until then). It can no be safely ignored, other than as an indicator that you will most likely have another private pension out there somewhere.