April 5 is the deadline for topping up gaps in your National Insurance (NI) record to max your state pension. After that date, you could be stuck with a lower payout for life
Workers are being warned that time is running out to boost their state pension by tens of thousands of pounds over retirement. If action isn’t taken before April 5, the opportunity to top up your National Insurance (NI) record could be lost.
This deadline marks the last chance to fill any gaps in your NI record to maximise your state pension. Failure to do so could result in a lower payout for life.
To receive the full new state pension, worth £221.20 a week or over £11,502 a year, you need 35 NI years, and ten years to get anything at all. This year represents the final opportunity to fill any gaps in your record dating back to 2006.
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From April 6, it will only be possible to buy back the last six tax years. The cost to boost your record varies depending on the year you top up, with rates usually around £824 for each missing year, adding £328 a year to your pension.
This boost lasts for life, meaning you could quickly recoup what you spend. If you purchase five years of missing contributions, paying around £4,100 in total, you’ll receive an extra £1,640 every year for life.
Over 10 years in retirement, this equates to an additional £16,400. Over 15 years, you would have accumulated an extra £24,600, according to investment firm Hargreaves Lansdown.
Helen Morrissey, head of retirement analysis at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Topping up your state pension can be a cost-effective way of boosting your retirement income. But before you do, check that you’ll actually benefit.”
Workers in low-paid jobs who may have gaps in their National Insurance record are being urged to take action. Even if you’ve already begun claiming your state pension, it’s possible to top it up, so it’s worth checking before the deadline.
However, it’s important to assess whether it’s beneficial. Ms Morrissey stated: “If you qualified for benefits such as Jobseeker’s Allowance or Child Benefit, you may be able to backdate a claim. These benefits come with NI credits, so you could fill the gaps for free.”
Information on eligibility for these credits can be found at www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility. Parents who opted out of Child Benefit due to the High Income Child Benefit charge should also check if they qualify for free NI credits.
From April 2026, the government will automatically provide NI credits to parents who stopped claiming child benefit but were unaware they were missing out on pension-boosting credits. Steve Webb, former Pensions Minister and partner at LCP, warned: “Parents thinking of paying voluntary NI contributions before the April 5 deadline might need to think again, as they risk wasting their money.”
The first step is to check your state pension forecast online using the government’s “Check your State Pension” tool at www.gov.uk/check-state-pension. The free HMRC app can also be used to access your forecast by logging in with your Personal Tax Account details.
If you don’t have an account, register on the government’s website. This will show which missing years you can buy back and how much you could.
You can then settle these online without the need to make a phone call.
If you’re below state pension age and require advice, ring the Future Pension Centre at 0800 731 0175.
For those already receiving their State Pension, the online service is not available.
Instead, you’ll have to get in touch with the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469.
However, be aware that phone lines may be busy as the deadline approaches.
