State Pension Gap Year Confusion

MyDogMuppet

I started my State Pension in January 2020. It's at the full basic rate. £225 pw. 
 
I've just been through the tortuous process of checking that I have 12 years of gaps 2006-2018. That correlates to when I left work. I can apparently pay £824 for each of my gap years according to HMG.

The HMG website doesn't tell me if paying for any of these years will actually increase my state pension. It will not let me pay online, it asks me to contact the Future Pensions Office.

Can anyone shed any light on how this system works ? Am i likely to be able to buy future extra state pension ?

It appears to be  a very good buy.

TIA....a confused pensioner.

[Deleted User]

Would paying any of the gap years actually increase your pension though?

molerat

The full rate is £221.20 so you are getting more than the "full basic rate".  How many full years do you have 2015-16 and earlier ?  If less than 30 more could possibly add to your pension.