Temporary arrangements are currently in place to allow taxpayers to buy NI gaps in their State Pension history between 6 April 2006 and 5 April 2018.
The availability to fill gaps for these years was originally extended by the government back in 2023, but are soon to expire on 5 April 2025. After which, you will only be able to fill gaps going back 6 years, in line with normal time limits, and will no longer be able to top-up for earlier years.
Shaun Davison, tax consultant:
“We understand that having peace of mind is crucial when planning for retirement. To provide certainty for those planning ahead, we encourage you to log onto your HMRC app, or via the online HMRC tax account, to identify any gaps in your NI pension history and check if it is worthwhile to make voluntary contributions for any missing years.”
The government have recently confirmed that the full State Pension will be worth up to £230.05 a week from April 2025 and this is due to increase in line with the triple lock in future years. Those who reach State Pension age will generally need a full 35 qualifying years in order to obtain this amount.
Although paying voluntary contributions will not always increase the State Pension, such as those expected to fill their NI credits during their remaining career, there is a risk that some people will miss out on this opportunity. We encourage everyone to check their NI record and consider whether paying voluntary contributions is right for them.