People have until 5 April 2025 to maximise their State Pension by making voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill any gaps in their NI record between 6 April 2006 and 5 April 2018.
More than 10,000 payments worth £12.5 million have been made through the new digital service to boost people’s State Pension since it launched in April 2024, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed.
HMRC and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are encouraging people to act now and use the Check your State Pension forecast tool on GOV.UK to see if they can increase their retirement income.
The service enables people to check if they have gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record, calculate if making a payment would increase their State Pension, and then make a payment if they wish to do so.
After the 5 April 2025 deadline, people will only be able to make voluntary contributions for the previous 6 tax years, in line with normal time limits.
The Online Process: Quick and Convenient
Thanks to the introduction of online payments, the process of topping up your NI contributions is now easier and more accessible than ever. Here’s how you can do it:
- Check Your National Insurance Record: Start by visiting the government’s online portal. You can check how many years of NI contributions you have and how many are missing. This will give you a clear idea of whether you need to make voluntary payments.
- Calculate the Cost: Once you know how many years you need to buy, you can calculate the cost. As of 2024, the cost for each year is approximately £900, but this may vary depending on your circumstances and whether you fall within certain brackets.
- Make the Payment Online: Once you're ready, you can make your payments directly through the government’s website. It’s quick, secure, and allows you to ensure your payments are recorded without delay.
- Track Your Progress: After making your payment, you can monitor the updates to your NI record through the online system. Once your contributions are recorded, the boost to your State Pension is locked in.
Further Information
More information on voluntary NI contributions
Customers should check if they can get National Insurance credits before they look into paying voluntary contributions
Men born after 6 April 1951 or women born after 6 April 1953 are eligible to make voluntary National Insurance contributions to boost their new State Pension.
In 2023, the previous government extended the deadline to pay voluntary NI contributions to 5 April 2025 for those affected by new State Pension transitional arrangements. This covers tax years from 6 April 2006 to 5 April 2018. The extended deadline means that people now have more time to properly consider whether paying voluntary contributions is right for them and ensures no-one need miss out on the possibility of increasing their State Pension.
Customers can usually pay voluntary contributions for the past 6 tax years. The deadline is 5 April each year.
The majority of customers of working age will be able to use the online service, without needing to phone HMRC or DWP, including those living abroad who want to pay voluntary contributions for years they were resident in the UK. However, it is not currently available to those who are already receiving their State Pension, self-employed customers or customers currently living outside the UK with gaps incurred while working abroad. They can continue to manage their NICs as set out on GOV.UK.
