Missing Gap Years - Cheapest Year Ignored

SpanishBlue

I am due to receive my state pension in about 3 and a half years time.

After checking online I see that I am 3 years short of getting a full pension, and would like to buy those 3 years.

I am no longer working so won't be paying anymore NI contributions.

When checking my missing payable gap years online, (I have 10), the 3 cheapest options given to me all ignore the one relatively cheap year I have - (9 of the years are around £800, the one cheap year for 2013/14 is about £200).

Is there likely to be a good reason why the cheap year is excluded, or should I try phoning Future Pensions, in case it's an error?

molerat

Pre 2016 years will not necessarily add to the pension dependent on your personal circumstances. To save yourself a call post up the following anonymous info and someone will give you the lowdown.  Also the final year may only add pennies which the below will weed out.

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
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

SpanishBlue

Thanks for your reply Molerat. Here are the figures you requested....

Current weekly £££.pp amount up to April 2024. - £203.01 a week.

"You need to continue to contribute National Insurance to reach your forecast - Forecast if you contribute another 3 years before 5 April 2028" (I won't be)  £221.20 a week

Number of full NI years 15-16 and earlier - 30

Number of full NI years 16-17 and later - 0

Any COPE amount. - Your COPE estimate is £24.80 a week

molerat

As suspected the reason you cannot use 13-14 is because your 2016 starting amount was under the old rules, £142.85 v £108.61 new, and you are limited to 30 useable years which you already held.  Adding 2 more years will take you to £215.65 at £6.32 each with the third adding the final £5.55.

SpanishBlue

Thanks, that's good to know.