Gaps in your National Insurance record: how voluntary contributions work
Published · 4 min read · Figures checked . UK rules and rates change, so check the official sources below before you act.
Gaps in your National Insurance record can mean some years do not count towards the State Pension. This guide explains how to check for gaps, what voluntary contributions are, the 2026/27 weekly rates and the six year deadline.
Who this guide is for
This guide is general information for people in the UK who want to understand how gaps in a National Insurance record affect the State Pension. It is not about people who have no gaps, and it is not advice for your own situation. Married women and widows paying the reduced rate cannot pay voluntary contributions, and nobody can pay for a period once the deadline has passed. National Insurance and the State Pension work the same way in England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own National Insurance system with similar rules, so it can be worth checking the official pages for where you live.
The figures below are for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027) and were checked on GOV.UK on 12 October 2026.
Why gaps matter
The State Pension is built on qualifying years. A year can be a qualifying year if you paid National Insurance, were credited with it (for example while claiming some benefits or caring for a child), or paid voluntary contributions. GOV.UK says you usually need at least 10 qualifying years to get any State Pension, and 35 qualifying years to get the full rate of the new State Pension if your record starts after April 2016.
If your record started before April 2016, the rules are different and you may need more than 35 years for the full amount. The new State Pension full rate is £241.30 a week on the GOV.UK page checked.
How to check your record
You can see your National Insurance record online on GOV.UK. It shows what you have paid up to the start of the current tax year, any credits, and whether gaps mean some years do not count towards your State Pension. It also shows whether paying voluntary contributions could help, how it would change your State Pension forecast, and what it would cost.
- Before paying, it is worth checking whether you are already eligible for National Insurance credits, because credits can fill a gap at no cost.
- If you are below State Pension age, you can check your State Pension forecast or contact the Future Pension Centre.
- If you have reached State Pension age, the Pension Service can help.
- If you live abroad, the International Pension Centre handles questions.
- If you think your record is wrong, HMRC is the place to contact.
What voluntary contributions are
Voluntary contributions are payments that some people can make to fill gaps. There are two main types. Class 2 is the cheaper type and is open to some people, including certain self-employed people with low profits and people living abroad. Class 3 is open to a wider group. GOV.UK says people who may benefit include those close to State Pension age without enough qualifying years, and those who expect not to build up enough years during their working life.
Not everyone benefits. If you already have 35 qualifying years, or will reach them before State Pension age, extra payments may add nothing to your State Pension. That is why many people check their forecast first.
The deadline
GOV.UK says you can only pay voluntary contributions for the past 6 years, and the deadline is 5 April each year. As an example, GOV.UK says you have until 5 April 2032 to fill gaps for the 2025 to 2026 tax year. Earlier deadlines have passed, so older gaps may no longer be possible to fill.
What it costs for earlier years
GOV.UK says you generally pay the current rate. For Class 2 for the previous tax year, or Class 3 for the previous 2 tax years, you pay the original rate for those years. Because rates usually rise each year, the price of filling a gap can change as time passes.
Free help
MoneyHelper, run by the Money and Pensions Service, offers free and impartial guidance on pensions. The Pension Service and HMRC can answer questions about your own record.
Check before you act
Rates, deadlines and eligibility can change. It is worth confirming the figures on the official pages linked below before paying anything or relying on this guide.
Sources
For information only. See our disclaimer and editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
