Filling gaps in National Insurance to boost state pension

David_Peckham

Thanks for all the comments.  

I have requested a call back from DWP Retirement Services ahead of the 5th April deadline. 

I am still none the wiser and it would be useful to be armed with some knowledge gained independently prior to this call.   

xylophone

I am still none the wiser

You said in your post above

 

I have only looked at several years tax returns, but I have paid Class 4 NI only and not Class 2 contributions. 

Have you read the link in Molerat's post?

https://www.litrg.org.uk/working/self-employment/nic-self-employed

It would appear that  although you paid class 4, you should also have been paying class 2  pre  24/25 to qualify for State Pension?

See

https://community.hmrc.gov.uk/customerforums/sa/eec39c9e-8125-ee11-a81c-000d3a0d1621#:~:text=Prior to the 2022 to,11,908 in 2022/23).

molerat

You have not paid class 2 so you have not earned credits for your state pension that is the simple bottom line.  It seems that HMRC did not chase class 2 non payers and I suspect the answer you will get is that you were not eligible to pay voluntarily as those contributions were compulsory and  it is now too late to pay beyond the past 6 years with class 3 as your only option for the remainder.

Post up the anonymous details from your forecast and someone will look for a way forward

Current weekly £££.pp amount up to April 2024.
Number of full NI years 15-16 and earlier
Number of full NI years 16-17 and later
Tax year you reach state retirement
Any COPE amount.  If you have "You've been in a contracted-out pension scheme" on your forecast then click
here https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-your-state-pension/account/cope whilst logged into your tax account