NI Top Up Contributions: Computer Says "NO" (not needed), but mysterious reason why!

CCxCP01

I’m an Irish national (Rep. of Ireland), and have lived in the UK since 1987, when I came here to study, before starting working here (and contributing Full Years to NI in 1989-1990 and every year subsequently until 2020-2021).

When I was lucky enough to be able to retire, just before my 61st birthday in 2022, I checked my NI Contributions and my prospective State Pension on the .GOV website. The website at that time told me that I would be eligible for the Full State Pension when I become eligible to receive this, in 2028.

Earlier this year, Martin promoted checking to see if any additional contributions might be needed for my State Pension. I followed his lead, and discovered that, at that point, apparently I was 3 years short on NI Contributions, and would need to pay approximately £2400 to buy back the years from 2021 to 2023. So I registered for a callback to arrange further contributions.

I received the initial callback this morning (July 30th, 2025), and in the discussion, I was told that I DO have the full 35-years’ worth of NI Contributions, and I AM eligible for the Full State Pension when it becomes due. However, I pointed out that according to my NI Record page on their site, I only have 32 years contributions, according to the NI Record I printed off in March 2025 (1989-1990 to 2020-2021 = 32 years). The Pension Team caller told me he could see that I had Juvenile Contributions for some years (from 1977 - 1979, I think). I explained that, as I was not living in the UK at that stage, I couldn’t have made these contributions. He was insistent that I WAS fully-covered for NI contributions and that I DID NOT need to make any top-up payments. I believe that I DO need to make payments to cover 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024, as detailed in the NI Record, as I couldn't have made the Juvenile contributions he reported, but he insisted that the Computer said “NO”, not needed (in fact it was saying “YES”, fully-covered!), so I had no need to worry. He then said he will send me a letter to confirm this finding, for my records, which I can refer to, should my State Pension not be the full amount when I finally do receive my State Pension.

However, I would prefer to have everything sorted sooner rather than later regarding this, and I was wondering if (a) this is a situation that anyone on here has encountered previously, and (b) if you have any guidance you think I should follow to make sure I don’t miss out.

Thank you for reviewing this post, and I hope I’ve made myself clear. I look  forward to thoughts as to what I should/should not do next. 

eskbanker

35 years doesn't apply to anyone getting close to pension age (it's only for those starting their NI journey since 2016), so ignore that and focus on what your state pension forecast actually says about your entitlement.

p00hsticks

Until 2010, everyone was creditted with NI contributions for the years they turned 16, 17 and 18. 

As Eskbanker says, rather that the number of years you have concentrate on the amount your forecast says you'll get and whether you need to contribute further to get the maximum. 

molerat

The 3 years for ages 16 to 18 were given away to anyone even if they were not living in the UK at the time, it was easier than actually figuring out who was really entitled.  Your record should show at the bottom something like " you have x years up to 19xx".  What do you mean by

I followed his lead, and discovered that, at that point, apparently I was 3 years short on NI Contributions,

35 years is of no relevance to someone with a pre 2016 history, you need as many as it takes so if your forecast shows you are already entitled to the full pension - not just the big green box at the top but in the text below that - then that is what you will get.  There is no point in counting the years and making assumptions.

QrizB

CCxCP01 said:

Earlier this year, Martin promoted checking to see if any additional contributions might be needed for my State Pension. I followed his lead, and discovered that, at that point, apparently I was 3 years short on NI Contributions, and would need to pay approximately £2400 to buy back the years from 2021 to 2023.

What exactly did you check earlier this year? Your State Pension forecast, or something else?

What exactly does your forecast say today?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

CCxCP01 said:

I’m an Irish national (Rep. of Ireland), and have lived in the UK since 1987, when I came here to study, before starting working here (and contributing Full Years to NI in 1989-1990 and every year subsequently until 2020-2021).

When I was lucky enough to be able to retire, just before my 61st birthday in 2022, I checked my NI Contributions and my prospective State Pension on the .GOV website. The website at that time told me that I would be eligible for the Full State Pension when I become eligible to receive this, in 2028.

Earlier this year, Martin promoted checking to see if any additional contributions might be needed for my State Pension. I followed his lead, and discovered that, at that point, apparently I was 3 years short on NI Contributions, and would need to pay approximately £2400 to buy back the years from 2021 to 2023. So I registered for a callback to arrange further contributions.

I received the initial callback this morning (July 30th, 2025), and in the discussion, I was told that I DO have the full 35-years’ worth of NI Contributions, and I AM eligible for the Full State Pension when it becomes due. However, I pointed out that according to my NI Record page on their site, I only have 32 years contributions, according to the NI Record I printed off in March 2025 (1989-1990 to 2020-2021 = 32 years). The Pension Team caller told me he could see that I had Juvenile Contributions for some years (from 1977 - 1979, I think). I explained that, as I was not living in the UK at that stage, I couldn’t have made these contributions. He was insistent that I WAS fully-covered for NI contributions and that I DID NOT need to make any top-up payments. I believe that I DO need to make payments to cover 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024, as detailed in the NI Record, as I couldn't have made the Juvenile contributions he reported, but he insisted that the Computer said “NO”, not needed (in fact it was saying “YES”, fully-covered!), so I had no need to worry. He then said he will send me a letter to confirm this finding, for my records, which I can refer to, should my State Pension not be the full amount when I finally do receive my State Pension.

However, I would prefer to have everything sorted sooner rather than later regarding this, and I was wondering if (a) this is a situation that anyone on here has encountered previously, and (b) if you have any guidance you think I should follow to make sure I don’t miss out.

Thank you for reviewing this post, and I hope I’ve made myself clear. I look  forward to thoughts as to what I should/should not do next. 

Why do you think 35 years is of the slightest relevance to you 🤔

Have you even read the full detail of your State Pension forecast?

CCxCP01

p00hsticks said:

Until 2010, everyone was creditted with NI contributions for the years they turned 16, 17 and 18. 

As Eskbanker says, rather that the number of years you have concentrate on the amount your forecast says you'll get and whether you need to contribute further to get the maximum. 

Thank you, p00hsticks. I had understood that the 35 years was relevant, from ML's reporting in this on his show in March, but if it's not, and I can go with what my forecast is saying, then, yes, I'm in the clear and eligible for the full state pension when I am due to collect it. I was puzzled, though, by the Future Pensions operative telling me that I had Juvenile contributions that applied to my forecast, when I couldn't have been eligible for these, having not lived here at the time.

CCxCP01

eskbanker said:

35 years doesn't apply to anyone getting close to pension age (it's only for those starting their NI journey since 2016), so ignore that and focus on what your state pension forecast actually says about your entitlement.

Thank you, Eskbanker. I had understood that the 35 years was relevant, from ML's reporting in this on his show in March, but if it's not, and I can go with what my forecast is saying, then, yes, I'm in the clear and eligible for the full state pension when I am due to collect it.

CCxCP01

molerat said:

The 3 years for ages 16 to 18 were given away to anyone even if they were not living in the UK at the time, it was easier than actually figuring out who was really entitled.  Your record should show at the bottom something like " you have x years up to 19xx".  What do you mean by

I followed his lead, and discovered that, at that point, apparently I was 3 years short on NI Contributions,

35 years is of no relevance to someone with a pre 2016 history, you need as many as it takes so if your forecast shows you are already entitled to the full pension - not just the big green box at the top but in the text below that - then that is what you will get.  There is no point in counting the years and making assumptions.

Thank you, molerat. I guess I got hooked on the 35-years issue from Martin's TV programme in March, but as my forecast is saying I am eligible for the full pension, the fact I appear only to have 32 years of contribution, but am still forecast to have the full allowance, then the 35-years issue is a red herring. 
As for the 16-18 year olds NI Contributions, I appreciate they may have been awarded to people not living here at the time they were in that age-range, but I assumed they would have been British citizens living abroad, not Irish nationals who hadn't moved to the UK until they were working age. But it seems to be a non-issue now too. 

CCxCP01

QrizB said:

CCxCP01 said:

Earlier this year, Martin promoted checking to see if any additional contributions might be needed for my State Pension. I followed his lead, and discovered that, at that point, apparently I was 3 years short on NI Contributions, and would need to pay approximately £2400 to buy back the years from 2021 to 2023.

What exactly did you check earlier this year? Your State Pension forecast, or something else?

What exactly does your forecast say today?

Thank you for your response, QrizB. I checked my National Insurance Record in March, and it showed that the last 3 years were not full (I'd retired from my business in March 2022) - I thought I needed to top these up to make "35-years" contributions, but this seems 35-years is a red herring, and I can relax, as my forecast does say I'm eligible for the full pension when it comes due.

CCxCP01

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

CCxCP01 said:

I’m an Irish national (Rep. of Ireland), and have lived in the UK since 1987, when I came here to study, before starting working here (and contributing Full Years to NI in 1989-1990 and every year subsequently until 2020-2021).

When I was lucky enough to be able to retire, just before my 61st birthday in 2022, I checked my NI Contributions and my prospective State Pension on the .GOV website. The website at that time told me that I would be eligible for the Full State Pension when I become eligible to receive this, in 2028.

Earlier this year, Martin promoted checking to see if any additional contributions might be needed for my State Pension. I followed his lead, and discovered that, at that point, apparently I was 3 years short on NI Contributions, and would need to pay approximately £2400 to buy back the years from 2021 to 2023. So I registered for a callback to arrange further contributions.

I received the initial callback this morning (July 30th, 2025), and in the discussion, I was told that I DO have the full 35-years’ worth of NI Contributions, and I AM eligible for the Full State Pension when it becomes due. However, I pointed out that according to my NI Record page on their site, I only have 32 years contributions, according to the NI Record I printed off in March 2025 (1989-1990 to 2020-2021 = 32 years). The Pension Team caller told me he could see that I had Juvenile Contributions for some years (from 1977 - 1979, I think). I explained that, as I was not living in the UK at that stage, I couldn’t have made these contributions. He was insistent that I WAS fully-covered for NI contributions and that I DID NOT need to make any top-up payments. I believe that I DO need to make payments to cover 2021-2022, 2022-2023, and 2023-2024, as detailed in the NI Record, as I couldn't have made the Juvenile contributions he reported, but he insisted that the Computer said “NO”, not needed (in fact it was saying “YES”, fully-covered!), so I had no need to worry. He then said he will send me a letter to confirm this finding, for my records, which I can refer to, should my State Pension not be the full amount when I finally do receive my State Pension.

However, I would prefer to have everything sorted sooner rather than later regarding this, and I was wondering if (a) this is a situation that anyone on here has encountered previously, and (b) if you have any guidance you think I should follow to make sure I don’t miss out.

Thank you for reviewing this post, and I hope I’ve made myself clear. I look  forward to thoughts as to what I should/should not do next. 

Why do you think 35 years is of the slightest relevance to you 🤔

Have you even read the full detail of your State Pension forecast?

Thanks for responding, Dazed and C0nfused. 
I thought the 35-years issue was relevant, as Martin L repeatedly referenced it in his TV programmes in March, but now it seems it is a red herring for people at my point in the pension eligibility cycle.
And yes, I had read my Full Pension Forecast, which stated that I was eligible for the full pension, but my NI Record indicated a short fall in years (which I now accept is the red herring). But matters were further confused for me by the Future Pensions operative who told me I had Juvenile Contributions from my teens, which couldn't have happened as I was not living in the UK (and as an Irish resident, would not have been eligible for these anyway). He couldn't explain that to me, but did reassure me that I was still on track for the full pension when I come due. I posted my query just to see if anyone on here thought I might need to do anything further to ensure I received the full pension, as I didn't want to miss out due to an error in registering juvenile contributions. But as my forecast DOES state I will receive the full amount, I'll accept that now, given the years' issue isn't relevant to me. Thanks for your contribution.