The Money Saving Expert has called for everyone between the age of 40 and 73 to check their National Insurance record urgently ahead of the deadline for boosting their state pension.
You can usually pay voluntary contributions for the past six years in order to get the full State Pension, but there’s currently a deadline extension of April 5 for you to check National Insurance (NI) records and fill in any gaps going back as far as April 2006.
But many people do not realise they have gaps, and by the time they retire, it may be too late to buy those years back.
Martin Lewis addresses the “last chance” for many to boost their state pension in his latest Martin Lewis Podcast with BBC Sounds.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, the Money Saving Expert founder said: “If someone hasn’t checked this yet and is between the age of 40 and 73, without exaggeration it could be worth £10,000s, so check.
“If you miss it now the door shuts forever on April 5.”
The Check your State Pension forecast service on GOV.UK is the quickest and easiest way customers can check what their pension will be in retirement and take action if they need to. People can also use the HMRC app to check their State Pension forecast.
Angela MacDonald, HMRC’s Second Permanent Secretary and Deputy Chief Executive, urged everyone “to check and fill any gaps in your National Insurance record from 2006 onwards to boost your State Pension entitlement.”
She added: “Don’t delay – it is quick and easy to check your National Insurance record on GOV.UK and it could help your finances in retirement.”
How do I buy back National Insurance Years?
Check your record via the UK Government website, and request a form by the April 5 deadline, requesting a call back.
This is a strict deadline. From April 6, people will generally only be able to make voluntary NI contributions for the previous six tax years, in line with normal time limits.
The form has been placed on the gov.uk website, for those who are struggling to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by phone to pay voluntary NI contributions.
What if I can’t get through?
The Government has now said that those who cannot get through ahead of the deadline can use an online call back request form.
The DWP will then contact the person on the phone number given to discuss payment.
The gov.uk website says: “If you submit a request by the 5 April 2025 deadline, you will still be able to pay voluntary national insurance contributions after the deadline has passed.”
A Government spokesperson said: “Our new online tool will mean that savers will be able to make top-up payments after the April 5 deadline, provided they complete the call back request form ahead of that date.
“This will enable us to ensure no one misses out, and to suitably manage demand as the deadline approaches.
“We also encourage people under state pension age to check whether it is beneficial for them to pay voluntary national insurance contributions by using our online checker.”
The Government said it always prioritises resources to deal with foreseen busy periods and this will include reviewing its resources before the deadline.
Sir Steve Webb, a former Liberal Democrat pensions minister who is now a partner at pension consultants LCP (Lane Clark & Peacock) said: “After the chaos in the run-up to previous deadlines, it is good that the Government has planned ahead to make sure that people do not miss out simply because they cannot get through on official phonelines to discuss state pension top-ups.
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“For many people a state pension top-up will be excellent value.
“But it is useful to be able to discuss your options with someone who can see your NI record and in particular highlight if topping up some years would be of little or no value.
“Whilst it would be better if people could simply call ahead of the deadline and get through, at least there is now the reassurance that those who try to make contact before the deadline will still be able to make payments after the deadline has passed.”
