The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued an urgent message to people across the UK ahead of an important deadline next month.
Time is running out for people to potentially add thousands of pounds to their State Pension by paying to fill gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record. A deadline of April 5 has been set for people to be able to top up their pensions by making voluntary NI contributions to plug any gaps in their record dating back to 2006. From April 6 onwards, people will only be able to pay for NI gaps for the previous six years, in line with normal limits.
The State Pension is not automatically paid at the maximum rate, which is currently about £221.20 per week if you get the full new State Pension. Instead, your eligibility for pension payouts is based on the number of NI ‘qualifying years’ and you generally need around 35 full years to qualify for the full amount.
You may be missing some NI years on your record if, for example, you took a career break, started work later in life, or didn’t work enough hours, but it’s possible to buy these missing years back if you choose.
It costs around £824 to buy a full year, but this can add thousands of pounds to your pension by boosting your payments. Financial experts Shipleys LLP say if you bought one year back, it would cost £824, but this would add £302 a year to your pension payments.
Up until April 5 you can buy back 13 NI years, dating between 2006 and 2018, but after this date the number of extra years you can buy will reduce to just six.
The DWP is urging people not to miss out on their chance to buy back these years to boost their State Pension and has advised that you request a call back in the event that phone lines are busy.
By requesting a call back, you can mitigate the risk of missing the April cut-off as the DWP has confirmed that anyone who buys missing NI years using its call back option will still be able to buy all 13 years – even if the call back takes place after the deadline.
In a message on X (formerly Twitter), the DWP said: “Don’t miss out on your State Pension entitlement. The 5 Apr 2025 deadline for paying voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill any gaps between 2006 and 2018 is approaching. Find out how to check for gaps in your National Insurance record.
“Check your State Pension and pay for gaps in your National Insurance record. You have until 5 April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record dating back to 6 April 2006. After this date, payments can only be made for the previous six tax years.
“Our online form is available where you can request a call back. DWP has launched an online call back request form for those unable to reach our phoneline.”
If you’re already a pensioner you need to call the Pension Service to arrange to pay missing NI years, but if you’re not a pensioner you need to call the Department for Work and Pension’s (DWP) Future Pension Service.
You can complete the online form to request a call back to pay voluntary NI contributions if you’re struggling to contact the DWP by phone. The DWP says it will contact you on the number you provide to make a payment.
If you submit a call back request by the April 5, 2025 deadline, then you will still be able to pay voluntary NI contributions after the deadline has passed.
