How to best top up gaps in NI contributions for state pension

simdar

I would like some help please working out how to get the best state pension for my wife who reaches SPA on 11 June this year.  As she has no photo id we cannot use the Govt Gateway to get an idea of her pension value.  We have not been able to get through to the FPC, but have followed the advice to request a callback, so that we can still buy years if we do not get through before the deadline.

We do have her NI record from HMRC which confirms 22 qualifying years between 1975/76 and 1998/99. The HMRC letter states that she can pay for up to 17 years from 2006/7 to 2022/23.

We both worked for the same employer and my Gov Gateway info says that some of my  contributions have been contracted out, so hers will have been too, but we have no details.

Is my wife better off just buying the years from 2016/17 onwards, or is there any benefit from buying any of the available years from before 2016/17 as well?

Many thanks!

molerat

2016-17 and later years will most likely add better value, £6.32 v £5.65 for a pre 2016 year, due to contracting out probably meaning the 2016 starting amount was under old rules.  But without actual figures that is a stab in the dark generalisation, part filled years etc can tip the balance and the complicated calculations could switch the starting amount old / new basis.  Your call back will be the only way to find out.