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Gaps in your National Insurance record? Filling one could add about £358 a year to your State Pension

You can usually pay to fill gaps from the last 6 tax years. A full year costs £956.80, and 5 April 2027 is the last day for 2020 to 2021.

Published 3 November 2026Last checked 3 November 2026UK-wideFrom HMRC and DWP

An old wooden abacus on a sunny windowsill with one bead missing from its top row, a single matching bead resting in an open palm-sized tin beside it.

Illustration generated with AI

What's happening

If you have gaps in your National Insurance record, you may be able to pay voluntary contributions to fill them and get a bigger State Pension. In 2026 to 2027 a full year of voluntary Class 3 contributions costs £956.80, and each extra qualifying year can add about £6.89 a week to the new State Pension. You can usually only go back 6 years, so 5 April 2027 is the last day to fill a gap from 2020 to 2021.

The question: Can I pay voluntary National Insurance to fill gaps in my record, what does it cost, and is it worth it?

This applies to you if…

  • Your National Insurance record shows a year as "not full" in the last 6 tax years
  • Your State Pension forecast says you won't get the full amount, even if you keep working or getting credits until State Pension age
  • You were not working, earned less than £129 a week, were self-employed with low profits, or lived abroad in some of those years
  • Your forecast or National Insurance record says paying for that year would increase your pension

Not for you if…

  • People who will reach the full new State Pension anyway through work or National Insurance credits before State Pension age
  • Some people who were contracted out before 2016, whose pension may not go up from extra years
  • People whose gap is more than 6 years ago, because the extended window for 2006 to 2017 closed on 5 April 2025
  • People who could get free National Insurance credits for that year instead, for example through Child Benefit or caring

What it's worth

What it's worth: About £6.89 a week for each extra qualifying year, up to the full new State Pension of £241.30 a week

Each qualifying year added after 5 April 2016 adds about 1/35 of the full new State Pension, until you reach the full amount or State Pension age

Tax year 2026 to 2027

What one year could cost and pay back

  1. Class 3 rate for 2026 to 2027: £18.40 a week
  2. A full year: £18.40 x 52 weeks = £956.80
  3. Extra State Pension: £241.30 divided by 35 = about £6.89 a week
  4. Over a year: £6.89 x 52 = about £358
  5. Time to get the cost back: £956.80 divided by £358 = a little under 3 years of pension

Pay about £957 once, get about £358 a year more for as long as you draw the pension

Illustrative calc using 2026 to 2027 rates. It only applies if your forecast shows the year would add to your pension. State Pension is taxable income.

How to do it

  1. 1

    Check your State Pension forecast

    It shows how much you could get, when, and whether filling gaps would help. You need to sign in, which may ask for photo ID. It doesn't work if you already get your State Pension or have put it off.

    Takes about 10 minutes

  2. 2

    Look at your National Insurance record

    It shows which years are not full, whether paying would increase your pension, and what it would cost.

    Takes about 10 minutes

  3. 3

    Check whether you can get free credits instead

    Credits can fill a year for free. For example, registering for Child Benefit for a child under 12 gives credits even if you don't take the money, and so do Universal Credit and Carer's Allowance.

  4. 4

    Talk to the Future Pension Centre before you pay

    If you're under State Pension age, ring 0800 731 0175, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, to check that paying for a particular year would help. If you're over State Pension age, contact the Pension Service.

  5. 5

    Pay for the years that would help

    You can pay Class 3 contributions online through the State Pension forecast service, by bank transfer or by Direct Debit. Paying through the forecast service updates your record within up to 5 working days. Other ways can take up to 8 weeks.

Deadline

Last day to pay for a 2020 to 2021 gap — 5 April 2027 (in 153 days)

You can usually only pay for the past 6 tax years. The deadline is 5 April each year, so each year another tax year drops out of reach.

The catches

Not every gap is worth filling

If you will reach the full State Pension anyway through work or credits before State Pension age, paying adds nothing. Check your forecast first.

Being contracted out can change the sums

If you were contracted out of the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme before 2016, you will usually need more than 35 years, and extra years may not add anything. GOV.UK says voluntary contributions do not always increase your pension.

Older years cost more

If you pay now, the last 2 tax years (2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026) are charged at their original rates of £17.45 and £17.75 a week. Anything older is charged at this year's rate of £18.40 a week.

Pension Credit can reduce

Pension Credit is means-tested and counts your State Pension as income. If you get it, or could, ask the Pension Service before paying, as a bigger State Pension can mean less Pension Credit.

Rules for time abroad changed in April 2026

From 6 April 2026 you can't pay the cheaper Class 2 contributions for time abroad. Only Class 3 is open, and you now need 10 years of living in the UK or 10 years of contributions to qualify.

Illustrative example

Sam, 58, who took a year out in 2020 to 2021

Sam's forecast says she'll get £234.41 a week, short of the full £241.30, even after working until State Pension age. Her record shows 2020 to 2021 is not full, and says paying would increase her pension.

  1. Sam rings the Future Pension Centre, which confirms that filling 2020 to 2021 would add to her pension.
  2. Because 2020 to 2021 is more than 2 years ago, she pays the 2026 to 2027 rate: £18.40 x 52 = £956.80.
  3. She pays online through the forecast service before 5 April 2027.
  4. Her forecast goes up by about £6.89 a week, to the full £241.30.

Sam pays £956.80 once and could get about £358 a year more, so it pays back in a little under 3 years of drawing her pension.

Illustrative example using 2026 to 2027 rates. Your own figures depend on your record and forecast.

What this means for…

  • 55 to State Pension age: Closest to State Pension age, so there's less time left to fill gaps through work. Checking your forecast now leaves time to act.
  • Self-employed: If your profits were under £7,105 in 2026 to 2027, you can pay voluntary Class 2 contributions at £3.65 a week, much cheaper than Class 3.
  • Not working or caring: Years out of work without benefits or credits often show as gaps. You may be able to fill them with Class 3 contributions or get credits.
  • Caring for someone: Caring for 20 hours or more a week can bring free carer's credits, so check those before paying.

Common misreadings

You might hear: Paying for a missing year always gives you more State Pension.

Actually: Only if the year would add to your pension. If you'll reach the full amount anyway, or you were contracted out, it may add nothing. Your forecast and record tell you which years would help.

You might hear: You can still fill gaps going back to 2006.

Actually: That longer window closed on 5 April 2025. Now you can usually only go back 6 tax years, which means 2020 to 2021 until 5 April 2027.

You might hear: You only get Child Benefit credits if you take the money.

Actually: Registering for Child Benefit for a child under 12 gives you National Insurance credits even if you choose not to receive the payments.

Where the UK nations differ

England, Scotland and Wales
The rates, the 6-year limit and how you pay are the same, as HMRC runs National Insurance across the UK. In Scotland, Carer Support Payment gives credits in the same way as Carer's Allowance.
Northern Ireland
nidirect points to the same HMRC guidance and rates. If you're over State Pension age, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre rather than the Pension Service.

What you could do

  1. are under State Pension age and not sure you'll get the full amount

    Check your forecast and National Insurance record online to see if any gaps would be worth filling.

  2. have a gap in 2020 to 2021 that your record says would help

    Ring the Future Pension Centre to confirm, then pay before the deadline.

    By 5 April 2027

  3. stayed at home with children or cared for someone in a gap year

    Check whether you can get free National Insurance credits for those years before paying anything.

Timeline

  1. 5 April 2025

    Extended window for 2006 to 2017 gaps closed

  2. 6 April 2026

    New 2026 to 2027 rates start, and Class 2 is no longer allowed for time abroad

  3. 5 April 2027

    Last day to pay for a 2020 to 2021 gap

    After this, the earliest year you can fill is 2021 to 2022.

The detail

The rules

  • Class 3 voluntary contributions 2026 to 2027: £18.40 a week (2025 to 2026: £17.75; 2024 to 2025: £17.45).
  • Class 2 voluntary contributions 2026 to 2027: £3.65 a week, for some self-employed people with profits under £7,105 or gross income of £1,000 or less.
  • You can only pay for the past 6 years. The deadline is 5 April each year.
  • Paying Class 3 for the previous 2 tax years is at the original rates. Older years are charged at the 2026 to 2027 rate.
  • Full new State Pension 2026 to 2027: £241.30 a week. You need at least 10 qualifying years to get any, and usually 35 for the full amount.
  • Each qualifying year added after 5 April 2016 adds about £6.89 a week, until you reach the full amount or State Pension age.
  • Class 3 is open to employed people earning under £129 a week who don't get credits, people not working and not getting credits, and people over State Pension age.
  • Child Benefit for a child under 12 and Universal Credit give Class 3 credits automatically. Carer's Allowance gives Class 1 credits.

References

  • GOV.UK voluntary National Insurance: rates: Class 3 is £18.40 a week and Class 2 is £3.65 a week in 2026 to 2027.
  • GOV.UK voluntary National Insurance: deadlines: You can only pay for the past 6 years, with a 5 April deadline each year.
  • GOV.UK new State Pension: what you'll get: You usually need 35 qualifying years for the full amount.

Documents

Words explained

Qualifying year
A tax year in which you paid or were credited with enough National Insurance to count towards your State Pension.
Voluntary contributions
National Insurance you choose to pay to fill a gap in your record.
Class 3
The main type of voluntary National Insurance, £18.40 a week in 2026 to 2027.
National Insurance credits
Free credits that fill your record in years you couldn't pay, for example while caring or claiming some benefits.
Contracted out
When, before 2016, you paid less National Insurance because you were in a workplace or personal pension instead of the state second pension.

In short

If your State Pension forecast is short of the full £241.30 a week, check your National Insurance record for gaps in the last 6 years. A full year of voluntary contributions costs £956.80 and can add about £358 a year. Check first that the year would help, and fill a 2020 to 2021 gap by 5 April 2027.

Related dates

  • 21 Dec Winter Fuel Payment opt-out for 2027 to 2028 opensChange · in 48 days
  • 27 Jan Chase a missing Winter Fuel PaymentDeadline · in 85 days
  • 31 Mar Winter Fuel Payment claim deadline (winter 2026 to 2027)Deadline · in 148 days
  • 5 Apr Last day to fill 2020 to 2021 National Insurance gapsDeadline · in 153 days
  • 6 Apr Pension Tax Allowance startsChange · in 154 days
  • 6 Apr Unused pensions come within inheritance taxChange · in 154 days
See the money calendar

Sources

  1. Voluntary National Insurance: rates, GOV.UK (2026-11-03)
  2. Voluntary National Insurance: deadlines, GOV.UK (2026-11-03)
  3. Voluntary National Insurance: who can pay, GOV.UK (2026-11-03)
  4. Voluntary National Insurance: if you live or work abroad, GOV.UK (2026-11-03)
  5. Your State Pension explained, DWP (2026-11-03)
  6. Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027, DWP (2026-11-03)
  7. The new State Pension: what you'll get, GOV.UK (2026-11-03)
  8. National Insurance credits: eligibility, GOV.UK (2026-11-03)
  9. Pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance, HMRC (2026-11-03)
  10. Is it too late to fill gaps in my National Insurance record?, Which? (2026-11-02)

This is guidance, not regulated financial advice. Check figures against the linked official source before you act. Written with AI assistance and checked against primary sources. How Kitty works. For free, impartial help, try MoneyHelper or Citizens Advice.