Voluntary National Insurance contributions
The number of years you paid National Insurance contributions will impact your State Pension. Learn more about your National Insurance record and if you can fill gaps in your record by paying voluntary contributions.
Qualifying for State Pension
You qualify for State Pension based on the number of qualifying years you paid National Insurance contributions (NICs).
You pay NICs from age 16 until you reach State Pension age.
Your record is made up of NICs you paid or that were credited to you in each tax year.
You need to make a minimum amount of contributions or credits in a year for it to count as a qualifying year towards your overall contributions record.
If you are a man born before 6 April 1951 or a woman born before 6 April 1953 learn more about qualifying for basic State Pension at:
If you are a man born on or after 6 April 1951 or a woman born on or after 6 April 1953 learn more about qualifying for new State Pension at:
National Insurance contributions
Learn more about NICs you pay up to and after State Pension age.
Getting credits towards your State Pension
You may not be able to pay National Insurance, for example if you are ill or caring for someone.
The government may give you credits so you can continue building up State Pension entitlement.
Find out if you can get credits towards your State Pension and if you need to do anything to get them.
Gaps in your National Insurance record
You may get gaps in your record if you do not pay National Insurance or do not get National Insurance credits.
This could be because you were:
- employed but had low earnings
- unemployed and were not claiming benefit
- self-employed but did not pay contributions because of small profits
- living or working outside the UK
Gaps can mean you will not have enough years of National Insurance contributions to either:
- get the full State Pension (sometimes called ‘qualifying years’)
- qualify for some benefits
You may be able to pay voluntary contributions to fill any gaps if you’re eligible.
Check your records for gaps
Check your National Insurance record to find out:
- if you have any gaps
- if you’re eligible to pay voluntary contributions
- how much it will cost
You may also be eligible for National Insurance credits if you claim benefits because you cannot work, are unemployed or caring for someone full time.
Contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you think your National Insurance record is wrong.
Decide if you want to pay voluntary contributions
Voluntary contributions do not always increase your State Pension.
You can find out if you will benefit from voluntary contributions by talking to a Pension Centre.
If you are below State Pension age
Contact the Future Pension Centre .
If you have reached State Pension age
Contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.
You may also want to get financial advice before you decide to make voluntary contributions
Why you might want to pay voluntary contributions
You may want to pay voluntary contributions because:
- you’re close to State Pension age and do not have enough qualifying years to get the full State Pension - check your State Pension age
- you know you will not be able to get the qualifying years you need to get the full State Pension during your working life
- you’re self-employed and need to pay voluntary Class 2 NICs if you don’t pay through Self Assessment because you have low profits
- you live outside the UK, but you want to qualify for some benefits - learn more about what National Insurance is for
Self-employed people with specific jobs
Some people do not have their Class 2 contributions treated as having been paid but may want to pay voluntary contributions.
These are:
- examiners, moderators, invigilators and people who set exam questions
- people who run businesses involving land or property
- ministers of religion who do not receive a salary or stipend
- people who make investments for themselves or others - but not as a business and without getting a fee or commission
Eligibility
You must be eligible to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for the time that the contributions cover.
- Check your eligibility to pay voluntary National Insurance - Voluntary National Insurance: Check which NICs you can pay
Rates
The voluntary National Insurance contribution rates for the current tax year can be found at:
How and when to pay
Learn how to:
If you’re living abroad, you can read Social security abroad: NI38 and fill in form CF83 at the end of the leaflet. Send it back to HMRC using the address on the form.
You can usually pay voluntary contributions for the past six years.
The deadline is 5 April each year.
Example
You had until 5 April 2026 to make up for gaps for the tax year 2019 to 2020.
If you want to make voluntary contributions for the tax year 2016 to 2017 or 2017 to 2018, the deadline was extended.
You had until 5 April 2025 to pay.
You can sometimes pay for gaps from more than six years ago, depending on your age.
Born before 5 April 1951 or 5 April 1953
There are special circumstances if you are a:
- man born after 5 April 1951
or
- women born after 5 April 1953
You had until 5 April 2025 to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps between April 2006 and April 2016 if you were eligible.
After 5 April 2025 you’ve only be able to pay for voluntary contributions for the past six years.
This may not be enough to qualify for a new State Pension if you have fewer than four qualifying years on your National Insurance record. You’ll usually need at least 10 qualifying years in total.
Making up a National Insurance Contributions (NIC) shortfall
It's up to you to decide if you make up any shortfall.
You should think carefully if you need to top up at all.
You will also need to think about the number of qualifying years needed to be eligible for certain bereavement benefits.
You should request a State Pension statement to see if there is any NIC shortfall and decide if you need to make up any gap in your contribution.
If you're unsure, Advice NI or other free advice organisations may be able to help you.
If you speak to a financial adviser, they might charge you for their advice.