NI contributions and State Pension

geckobat

I've been trying to get my head around this.

I undoubtedly don't have enough NI contributions toward a state pension due to years of illness, many of which I wasn't claiming anything or working. (I'm not even sure on the credits when claiming anyway). But it's obviously a concern about the future and now I read that we can only claim for certain past years up until April 2025 before there is a cut off.

I'm trying to understand it all, but I'm wondering is it best to attempt to buy a few years NI top ups? Or will there be little point? Or should I try to gradually contribute to a private pension instead (which currently has less than £100 from an old job).

I'm struggling to know what to do with all this and brain fog doesn't help. Can anybody advise?

chiarieds

Hi @geckobat - the govt website says you can usually voluntarily pay NI contributions for the past 6 years (sometimes going further back), & if you wanted to pay for the tax years 2016 to 2017 or 2017 to 2018, the deadline has been extended until 5 April 2025:

https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions/deadlines After this date it will only be for the past 6 years that this will be possible.

You can check your NI record here:

https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record