Filling Gaps in Your National Insurance Record

What Are Gaps in Your NI Record?

A gap is a tax year in which you did not:

• Pay enough National Insurance through employment or self-employment
• Receive National Insurance credits for caring, unemployment, or illness
• Make voluntary contributions

Common reasons for gaps include:

• Earning below the Lower Earnings Limit (£6,396 for 2025/26)
• Living abroad without paying NI
• Time out of work without claiming benefits
• Caring for someone without claiming Carer's Allowance or Child Benefit
• Self-employment with low profits
• Starting work late or retiring early

Should You Fill Your Gaps?

You Should Consider Filling Gaps If:

• You have fewer than 35 qualifying years - Each gap you fill increases your pension
• Your forecast confirms it will help - The forecast explicitly says filling gaps will increase your pension
• You can afford it - £923 per year (Class 3) for 2025/26
• You expect to live beyond the break-even point - Usually around 3 years after claiming
• You're approaching State Pension age - And won't reach 35 years otherwise

Don't Bother Filling Gaps If:

• You already have 35 qualifying years - More won't increase your pension
• Your forecast says it won't help - Due to contracted-out deductions or protected payments
• You're unlikely to reach 10 years minimum - You need at least 10 years to get anything
• The gap is too old to fill - Usually can only fill last 6 years (except special deadlines)
• You qualify for Pension Credit anyway - Filling gaps may not benefit you financially

How Much Does It Cost?

The cost depends on which class of National Insurance you're eligible to pay.

Pension Increase Per Year Filled

Each qualifying year you add increases your State Pension by:

• Weekly: £6.58 (£230.25 ÷ 35)
• Annual: £342.09

Break-Even Analysis

For Class 3 (£923/year):

• Cost: £923
• Benefit: £342.09 per year extra pension
• Break-even: £923 ÷ £342.09 = 2.7 years

If you expect to live more than 2.7 years after claiming State Pension, filling gaps with Class 3 is financially worthwhile.

For Class 2 (£182/year):

• Cost: £182
• Benefit: £342.09 per year extra pension
• Break-even: £182 ÷ £342.09 = 0.5 years (6 months)

Class 2 pays for itself very quickly, but it's only available to specific groups and is ending in April 2026.

Deadlines for Filling Gaps

Standard Rule: Last 6 Tax Years

Normally, you can fill gaps from the last 6 tax years. As of December 2025, this means you can fill gaps back to:

• 2019/20 (6 April 2019 to 5 April 2020)
• 2020/21
• 2021/22
• 2022/23
• 2023/24
• 2024/25 (current year, until 5 April 2025)

Extended Deadline: April 2006 to April 2017

Until 5 April 2025, you can fill gaps from as far back as April 2006 to April 2017 at 2022/23 rates.

This special extension was introduced to give people more time to fill older gaps. After 5 April 2025, these years will no longer be available to fill.

Rates for Older Years

For years before 2023/24, you pay the rate that applied in 2022/23:

• Class 3: £15.85/week (£824.20/year)
• Class 2: £3.15/week (£163.80/year)

How to Check Which Gaps to Fill

Step 1: Check Your NI Record

Go to gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record to see:

• Which years are full (qualifying years)
• Which years have gaps
• Which gaps you can fill
• Which gaps you cannot fill

Step 2: Check Your Forecast

Go to gov.uk/check-state-pension to see:

• Your current State Pension forecast
• How many qualifying years you have
• Whether filling gaps will increase your pension
• How much your pension could increase

Step 3: Prioritize Which Gaps to Fill

If you have multiple gaps and limited budget, prioritize:

1. Gaps that are expiring soon - Years approaching the 6-year limit or the April 2025 deadline
2. Cheaper gaps - Class 2 if you're eligible (until April 2026)
3. Gaps that make the biggest difference - Years needed to reach the 10-year minimum or 35-year maximum

How to Pay Voluntary Contributions

Method 1: Online Application

1. Sign in to your Government Gateway account at gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions
2. Follow the online application process
3. You'll receive a reference number
4. Pay by debit card or bank transfer

Method 2: By Phone

Call the Future Pension Centre on 0800 731 0175

Open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

They can:

• Tell you which years you can pay for
• Calculate the exact cost
• Send you a payment reference
• Explain payment options

Method 3: By Post

Download form CF83 from GOV.UK or request it by phone. Complete and return with payment.

Payment Methods

• Debit card - Online or by phone
• Bank transfer - Using reference provided
• Cheque - With postal application

Important Things to Know

It Takes Time to Process

Voluntary contributions can take several weeks to process and appear on your NI record. Don't leave it to the last minute if approaching a deadline.

You Can Pay in Instalments

You don't have to pay for multiple years at once. You can pay one year at a time or set up a payment plan.

Contracted-Out Deductions May Apply

If you were contracted out of the State Pension in the past (through a workplace pension), filling gaps may not increase your pension as much as expected. Your forecast will show if this applies to you.

Class 2 Is Ending (April 2026)

From April 2026:

• Class 2 voluntary contributions will no longer be available for periods spent abroad
• Only Class 3 will be available
• You must have lived in the UK for at least 10 years to pay Class 3 for abroad periods

You Cannot Get a Refund

Once you've paid voluntary contributions, you cannot get a refund. This is why it's crucial to check your forecast first to ensure it will actually increase your pension.

Special Situations

Living Abroad

If you live abroad, you can currently pay Class 2 (cheaper) or Class 3 to maintain your NI record. From April 2026, only Class 3 will be available, and you must have lived in the UK for 10 years.

Self-Employed

If you were self-employed with profits below the Small Profits Threshold (£6,725 for 2025/26), you may have gaps. You can fill these with Class 2 contributions if the gap is recent, or Class 3 for older gaps.

Caring for Children

Before paying to fill gaps during years you were caring for children, check if you're entitled to NI credits instead:

• Specified Adult Childcare credits for caring for children under 12
• Child Benefit credits if you were receiving Child Benefit

You may be able to claim credits for free instead of paying voluntary contributions.

Approaching State Pension Age

If you're within a few years of State Pension age and have gaps:

• Check your forecast to see exactly how many more years you need
• Focus on filling gaps that will make a difference (e.g., to reach 10 or 35 years)
• Consider whether you'll build qualifying years through future work or credits
• Act before deadlines expire

Example Scenarios

Example 1: Sarah (Age 55, 28 Qualifying Years)

Situation:

• Has 28 qualifying years
• State Pension age is 67 (in 12 years)
• Will work for 10 more years, gaining 10 more qualifying years
• Final total: 38 years (more than 35 needed)

Decision: No need to fill gaps. She'll exceed 35 years through future work.

Example 2: John (Age 62, 32 Qualifying Years)

Situation:

• Has 32 qualifying years
• State Pension age is 66 (in 4 years)
• Not working, won't gain more years
• Has 3 fillable gaps from 2015-2017

Decision: Fill 3 gaps to reach 35 years

• Cost: 3 × £824.20 (old rate) = £2,472.60
• Benefit: 3 × £342.09/year = £1,026.27/year extra pension
• Break-even: 2.4 years after claiming

Action: Fill the 3 gaps before the April 2025 deadline.

Example 3: Emma (Age 50, 8 Qualifying Years)

Situation:

• Has 8 qualifying years (below 10 minimum)
• State Pension age is 67 (in 17 years)
• Plans to return to work, will gain 15+ more years
• Final total: 23+ years

Decision: No need to fill gaps now. Future work will give her more than 10 years minimum. She could fill gaps later if she wants to get closer to 35 years, but it's not urgent.