UK State Pension – Deadline for Making Voluntary Contributions

If you haven’t paid National Insurance (NI) for some periods, you may have gaps in your NI record. These gaps can affect your ability to:

• Get the full State Pension (you usually need at least 10 qualifying years)
• Qualify for certain benefits

Why You Might Have Gaps in Your NI Record

You may have missing NI contributions if you were:

• Employed but had low earnings
• Unemployed and not claiming benefits
• Getting National Insurance credits for less than a full tax year
• Self-employed but did not pay contributions due to small profits
• Living or working outside the UK

Voluntary Contributions – Time Limits

Normally, you can only pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for gaps in the past six tax years. For example, you have until 5 April 2030 to make up for any gaps in your record for the 2023–2024 tax year.

Special Opportunity: Pay Older Gaps Before 5 April 2025

A limited-time window allows you to fill in older gaps going back to 2006, but only if you act before 5 April 2025.

Who Can Benefit? If you are:

• A man born after 5 April 1951, or
• A woman born after 5 April 1953

You can pay voluntary contributions to fill gaps from 2006 to 2018. If you were born before these dates, you can pay for gaps from 2016 to 2018.

After 5 April 2025: You’ll only be able to fill gaps from the previous 6 years, as usual.

Need More Time? Request a Callback Before the Deadline

The UK pensions office is offering an extension if you simply:

👉 Request a callback before 5 April 2025

This secures your place in the queue and gives you more time to make your voluntary contributions – even after the official deadline.