Filling gaps in National Insurance to boost state pension

molerat

To get the full state pension you need 35 qualifying years right? 

Only if you were born after 2000

Your forecast will have several amounts quoted, usually 2 or 3

The top line big green box amount with what you can achieve going forward

The amount already accrued up to the end of the last tax year

And, if the top line is not the full amount, what you can achieve buying past years.

The important amount here is the amount below the big green box.  It will also clearly state how many more years you need to fill to reach the max.

QrizB

David_Peckham said:

How much I have already accrued? 

I don't even understand the question... 

See here:

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

Don't just read the headline figure, look below into see how much you have already accrued and how many more years you need.

David_Peckham said:

To get the full state pension you need 35 qualifying years right? 

No.

molerat

You also seem to think there is a straight linear relationship between the number of years and the pension amount, there is not.  A pre 2016 year can be worth, in today's values, £6.58, £5.88 or £0.  Then there is maybe a contracted in addition or a contracted out deduction.  A post 2016 year is always worth £6.58 though - up to the maximum amount.

xylophone

Have you obtained a state pension forecast?

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

What exactly does it say?

David_Peckham

From my state pension summary

You can get your pension on [x] March 2037

Your forecast is £181.62 a week 

Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2025 - £116.68 

Forecast if you contribute until 5 April 2036 - £189.04

From my National Insurance record from 1986-87 

Each year states either Full Year or Year is not full 

There are 16 full years

molerat

So you need £230.25 - £116.68 = £113.57 / £6.58 = 17.26 so 18 more years to reach the max pension.  You have 11, including 25-26, left to go before retirement so need another 7 back years.  The final year will only add £1.73.

Don't understand that £181.62 figure though.

David_Peckham

Thank you for all the replies.