State Pension forecast: How to check for missing National Insurance contributions

Almost seven million people have never checked their State Pension forecast, according to research from HMRC.

Even more worrying is that 45 to 54-year-olds are more likely than any other age group to have never checked their State Pension, even though this age is vital for retirement planning.

Entitlement to the State Pension depends on National Insurance Contributions (NICs).

You need 35 years of NIC contributions to qualify for the full State Pension, which is why it's so important that you check how much you are on track to receive.

Here's how to check your State Pension forecast and what to do if you find missing National Insurance contributions.

How do I check my State Pension forecast?

You can check your State Pension forecast online through gov.uk.

The service tells you:

• How much State Pension you could get and when you'll be entitled to claim

• Whether you can increase your State Pension

• How you could potentially increase it, including by filling National Insurance gaps.

You need to sign in to use the service and may need to prove your identity.

You can also check your forecast using the HMRC app and it will also help you understand potential gaps in your National Insurance record and, if you're eligible, give you the option of paying voluntary contributions.

How do I check for missing National Insurance contributions?

When you check your State Pension forecast, you will also see your National Insurance record.

This can show whether you have gaps in your record and whether those gaps could affect your State Pension.

A gap does not necessarily mean you have done anything wrong or that you will automatically receive less State Pension.

There can be a number of reasons why a year is not shown as qualifying, including periods when you were not working or paying National Insurance.

It's also worth checking whether you were entitled to National Insurance credits for certain periods.

For example, people may be able to receive credits in circumstances including caring responsibilities or periods when they were receiving certain benefits.

This is important because you may be able to fill a gap through credits rather than paying voluntary contributions.

How many National Insurance years do you need for the full State Pension?

You need 35 qualifying years are needed for the full rate of the new State Pension.

The current full rate of the new State Pension is £241.30 a week.

The rules can be more complicated for people with older National Insurance records and if you were contracted out of part of the State Pension system.

Your personal forecast is the more useful figure to check.

What should I do if I have NI gaps?

First, check whether you could receive National Insurance credits for the period.

You should then use your State Pension forecast and National Insurance record to establish whether paying voluntary contributions would actually increase your State Pension.

The online service can help you establish:

• whether you have a gap

• whether you are eligible to pay voluntary contributions

• whether paying would benefit you

• how much it would cost

• whether you can pay online.

If you're below State Pension age and aren't sure whether paying voluntary contributions would help, you can also contact the Future Pension Centre for guidance.

How far back can you pay missing National Insurance contributions?

For most people, voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions can be used to fill gaps in the previous six tax years.

The deadline is normally April 5 each year.

For example, you will have until April 5, 2032 to pay for gaps in the 2025/26 tax year.

However, you should check your individual position before making a payment because paying for a particular year does not necessarily mean you will receive more State Pension.

Check your State Pension now

You don't need to be close to retirement to check your State Pension forecast.

Doing it earlier gives you a clearer picture of your National Insurance record and could give you more time to investigate any missing years or check whether you qualify for credits.

HMRC's latest research suggests many people who have delayed checking their pension say retirement feels too far away.

But your State Pension is based partly on your National Insurance history, so it can be useful to check your record even if retirement is still years away.