Voluntary NI contributions cut off 2025

Shezmaw

Hi everyone. 

I am 72 and have been receiving a reduced state pension for 7 years. I am 10 years short on NI contributions due to finishing work to care for my parents at their home for 10 years until they passed away. It was a tough time. I did not claim carers allowance as it was my mum & dad and later the DWP told me morally I did the right thing but I still had to pay around £8,000 to top up my pension. 

I managed to claim 7 years home responsibilities protection this year and now have to pay 3 years volentary NI contributions. 

I did my application in March 2025 before the deadline and mentioned I had applied for 7 years HRP. I had no call back so called a few times to check it was a okay and was told to wait for a letter. The letter arrived in July for 10 years NI payment. I called again and told them I was waiting for 7 years HRP to make it 3 years NI I had to pay. They said to wait for another letter and as I registered before April I will be able to pay. October i got the 7 years on my ni so left 3 to pay. I called again and everything was okay. Letter turns up 7th December and says I can't pay. I called a few times and spoke to three different people and was told I should have paid before April. All this has made me a nervous wreck and luckily I have had my husband to support me through this. 

Any advice on what to do next. Thank you for reading and a Happy Christmas.  x 

p00hsticks

So you reached State Pension age in 2018. Was it before or after April 6th that year ?
What years do you have full on your NI record ? 
It's difficult to comment without more details but I'm wondering if it's the case that only more post-2016 years would boost your state pension and there aren't three available for you to buy before you reached SPA. 

Silvertabby

Depending on OP's exact date of birth (1953) her SPA would have between 63 years 8 months and 64 years 11 months.  If very early in 1953, she would have reached SPA before 6 April 2016, which would definitely rule out any post 2016 contributions.