National Insurance - missing years

YorkshireBlossom

Good morning everyone, this is the first time posting.  I am after some advice if possible please. Both my husband and I have missing NI contributions, mine is for one year and my husbands for 2. To pay these would be over £1500. When checking the pension forecast it says we will both get the maximum £221.20 weekly payment and can't get anymore.  Is it worth paying for the missing contributions as I see it we won't get any more than the maximum pension payment of £ 221.20. anyway.  Or do we need to pay the missed contributions? Thank you

molerat

If your forecasts are clearly showing you have already reached the full amount, not only in the big green box but in the text below that, then there is no point filling the missing years.  The text below the box makes it clear if you need to do anything to reach the box amount.

Sarahspangles

You need to look very closely at what the Pension Forecast says. If you see the words “ You cannot improve your forecast any more.” then the fact you have a year incomplete doesn’t matter.

It causes confusion that a lot of information about the State Pension says people now need 35 years’ contributions, but that only applies to those starting their working lives after 2016. The range for older people seems to be 29 to 50 years. 

It also confuses people that their pension forecast predicts they will reach the maximum New State Pension, if they don’t notice the ‘Assuming you pay x more years’ 

YorkshireBlossom

Thank you for the comments above, much appreciated. The exact wording is:  

£221.20 is the most you can get

You cannot improve your forecast any more.

So I am presuming we don't need to pay any more contributions?

Thank you

Brie

From what you are saying there is nothing further for you to pay.

If you did need to pay more you might see something like this (from my forecast before I got to SP age)

YorkshireBlossom

Thank you - it doesn't mention we need to contribute just:

Your forecast is £221.20 a week, £961.83 a month, £11,541.90 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 2024
• does not include any increase due to inflation

£221.20 is the most you can get

You cannot improve your forecast any more.