National Insurance record - Do you have any gaps?

EdGey

EdGey

EdGey

Soldato
Joined
21 Jan 2008
Posts
8,320
Location
England
Is yours up to date? Do you care?

I have one missed year from when I was 18 and had no idea what a national insurance stamp was (shout out public education system). I'm now trying to decide whether I should plug the gap for just under £450, or not.

As far as I can tell, it'll make no difference to anything, as I haven't missed a year since and don't intend to moving forward, which will see me easily pass the maximum number of payments for full state pension. On the other hand, I feel we're only one Labour-style policy change from this being a very poor decision.

Either way I need to make a decision within a few months as that's the cut off.

Anyone else in the same boat? Is there more to this than I realise?
 
Unless you have been contracted out at some point there's no need to fill in the gap if your going to reach the 35 years required afaik.

I've got various gaps at different times when I cba to work and I'll still easily hit the full amount.
 
Think I have a gap but like you, I am likely to have enough qualifying years anyway. I believe it is generally considered a good return on investment as each year paid for is paid back after 3 years of receiving state pension. In your case even less as it's approx half a years cost?

On a side note, I recently discovered however that my partner has a lot of gaps and very few qualifying years (she is late 20s now) due to working a job with too little hours for a number of years, whilst living with parents (and studying for at least some of that time I think). It's somewhat annoying to be honest that had she just been someone who signed up for job seekers allowance she would have had qualifying years allocated perhaps... although not entirely sure on what the requirements exactly were back then.

Now facing a massive shortfall and about 32 years still required. C'est la vie I guess.
 
Last edited:
I'd suggest ignoring any gaps unless you're nearing the state pension age and need the qualifying years. The concept of a universal state pension is getting more and more unrealistic as each decade passes and I doubt anything but a draconian means tested base variant will replace it.
 
For anyone wanting to fill in any gaps be aware that you are normally only able to go back 6 years, though we are in a period where that has been extended and you can still fill in any gaps since the 2016/17 tax year until the 5th April 2025

After that it drops to 6 yrs again.
 
I kill Bunnies said:
Isn't it a pointless system anyway as pension credit will bring you up to state pension level if under?
Click to expand...
Means tested; e.g. below minimal savings thresholds. But this is all moot if you're still 20+ years away from hitting retirement age (which will likely be 69/70/71+ if the same system is in place!).
 
Yeah, but if you have not bothered saving and not paid in, essentially Pension Credit replaces the State Pension. Everyone who did pay in now funds the scrotes on Pension Credit as well.
 
Last edited:
I just checked mine having read the OP. I have loads of missing years when I wasn’t in the UK in my younger days. It still forecasts I’ll reach the full amount by the current retirement age.
 
I have a gap from when I was 18 (26 years ago).

I will reach the 35 qualifying years no problem, so I don't need to query it. But I have been thinking of doing so anyway because the gap is wrong in my view. a) I was working part time then, and b) I was at university full time. So I don't think there should be a gap at all.

I probably won't bother, but as Im a perfect citizen it would be nice to have a perfect NI record.
 
I'm on track to make 35 years contributions at 55 but I'd like to retire earlier than that if all goes to plan. So maybe I should pay for a 2 year gap I have. I do worry about SP becoming means tested in future though.

e: I wonder if can I just pay voluntary contributions for a couple of years after I retire instead of paying the historical gaps now.
 
Last edited:
EvilRob said:
I'm on track to make 35 years contributions at 55 but I'd like to retire earlier than that if all goes to plan. So maybe I should pay for a 2 year gap I have. I do worry about SP becoming means tested in future though.

e: I wonder if can I just pay voluntary contributions for a couple of years after I retire instead of paying the historical gaps now.
Click to expand...

It probably will become means tested. Around 21% of UK adults don't have any private pensions and increasingly young people are foregoing home ownership and even full time work.

Those that saved and work will increasingly fund the other group.
 
EvilRob said:
I'm on track to make 35 years contributions at 55 but I'd like to retire earlier than that if all goes to plan. So maybe I should pay for a 2 year gap I have. I do worry about SP becoming means tested in future though.

e: I wonder if can I just pay voluntary contributions for a couple of years after I retire instead of paying the historical gaps now.
Click to expand...

Yes you can. AFAIK you just can't pay contributions after you have reached official retirement age

 
Last edited:
Freakbro said:
For anyone wanting to fill in any gaps be aware that you are normally only able to go back 6 years, though we are in a period where that has been extended and you can still fill in any gaps since the 2016/17 tax year until the 5th April 2025

After that it drops to 6 yrs again.
Click to expand...

2006-2016 it says on mine.
 
I kill Bunnies said:
It probably will become means tested. Around 21% of UK adults don't have any private pensions and increasingly young people are foregoing home ownership and even full time work.

Those that saved and work will increasingly fund the other group.
Click to expand...

It's a tricky one that always gets debated. It's political suicide for any party to push it through. You'll anger a lot of the electorate, even those who have been working say 10 years as it's unfair to expect them to contribute to the current payout of the state pension, and not have that reciprocated later in life.
 
How do you go about checking if you have gaps your in N.I? so i gather you can only go and only fill in the gaps that are up to 6 years ago & now further back. I might have gaps going 8 years ago so there is no way to fill that up?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom