The clock is ticking- there are just two months left to top up your state pension through older National Insurance contributions. Until 5th April, anyone up to their mid-70s can plug gaps dating back to 2006, potentially boosting their payments for life.

A £5,400 investment could mean over £25,000 in extra pension income. Millions could benefit, but you need to act now: check your record online, contact HMRC, and confirm it’s worth paying before you commit.

The UK State Pension depends on your National Insurance (NI) record. You need 35 years of contributions for the full pension, with, in most cases, at least 10 years required to receive anything. Right now, there’s a one-time opportunity to top up any gaps in your record going back as far as 2006 – which is far beyond the usual six-year limit. This rare extension was introduced to help people adjust to changes in the pension system, but it ends on the 5th of April 2025. Any older gaps will be permanently locked out after the 5th of April 2025, and that could mean losing out on thousands of pounds in retirement income.

How much could you gain by doing this?

• Each qualifying year costs about £824. 
• Over a year, that’s £329 extra income. 
• You’ll recoup your investment in just 2 and a half years of pension payments; after that, it’s all profit. 
• Over a 20-year retirement you’d get an additional £5,750+ from just one year. 

Here’s an example of somebody who would qualify, we’re going to call her Jenny.

• Jenny had an employment gap between 2014 and 2019. 
• Because 2019 is six years ago, she has until this deadline to fill that gap. 
• To fill the gap, Jenny would need £4,120. 
• Over a year, that’s an extra £1,645 in state pension. 
• She’ll have recouped her investment in just 2.5 years of pension payments.
• If Jenny lives for twenty years after her retirement, that’s a total lifetime gain of over: £28,000+ This isn’t just a nice bonus – it’s a game-changer for retirement income. 

Who should top up?

Close to retirement or already retired

If you’re not getting the full state pension—or you’re a few years away from qualifying—this could help you increase your payments significantly. 

Career breaks

Did you spend years travelling? Maybe you were self-employed or had periods of unemployment? If so, you might have gaps in your NI record.

Low earnings

If you didn’t meet the income threshold for NI contributions in some years, you can top up to make those years count.

Worked abroad

Or moved back to the UK after missing years of NI contributions.

This isn’t just about plugging gaps—it’s about turning those gaps into extra income for life.

Who doesn’t need to top up?

People with 35 qualifying years

If you already have the full 35 years required for the state pension, paying for more won’t increase your pension.

Younger workers

If you’re in your 30s or 40s and expect to continue working, you’ll likely accumulate enough qualifying years through regular contributions. No need to act now.

People covered by old pension rules

If you worked under the old state pension system, you might already qualify for the full pension even if you have worked for less than 35 years.

The government have something called the Future Pension Centre that can confirm this for you.

How can you check – and then pay in?

Step 1. Check Your NI Record

Log into gov.uk  using your Government Gateway account (or set one up—it only takes a few minutes). 

Click on Your National Insurance and State Pension. Then you’ll see you can click on the National Insurance Summary.  It will point out any gaps in your record and how much it would cost to fill them. 

Step 2: Get a Pension Forecast 

Use the same platform to get a state pension summary. This will tell you how much you’re on track to receive and whether it’s worth topping up. 

Step 3: Speak to the Experts 

You don’t want to pay more than you need to get a full state pension, so if you’re unsure, you can contact the Future Pension Centre. They’ll confirm whether filling specific gaps will actually boost your pension. 

Step 4: Make Your Payment Once you’re sure, you can make payments

Once you’re sure, you can make payments directly to HMRC. It’s usually quick and easy to do online.

National Insurance Credits – what can people do if they think they’re missing some?

• If you were unable to work, unemployed, or a full-time carer, your benefits should have automatically included National Insurance credits, which top up your National Insurance Payments.
• If you believe you’re missing credits, contact the Future Pension Centre. For example, Jenny cared for her grandchildren for six years, allowing their parents to work. 
• This qualifies her for Specified Adult Childcare Class 3 credits. 
• If you’ve cared for a child under 12 since April 2011, and their parent receives Child Benefit, they can transfer their credits to you.
• This can fill gaps in your National Insurance record – just like Jenny, who avoided paying £4,120 to complete her contributions.