Yes, You Can Buy Missing NI Years
If you have gaps in your National Insurance (NI) record – years where you did not pay enough contributions or receive NI credits – you can often fill those gaps by paying voluntary Class 3 NI contributions. This tops up your record and can increase the amount of State Pension you receive.
For the new State Pension (which applies if you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016), you need 35 qualifying years for the full amount of £230.25 per week (2026/27 rate). Each missing qualifying year reduces your pension by approximately £6.58 per week – that is £342 per year, every year, for the rest of your life.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of voluntary Class 3 contributions depends on the tax year you are filling. For the current 2026/27 tax year, the rate is £17.45 per week, which works out to £907.40 for a full year.
For older tax years, you pay the rate that applied at the time. Here are the rates for recent years:
| Tax Year | Weekly Rate | Annual Cost | Extra Annual Pension | Payback Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020/21 | £15.40 | £800.80 | £342 | 2.3 years |
| 2021/22 | £15.40 | £800.80 | £342 | 2.3 years |
| 2022/23 | £15.85 | £824.20 | £342 | 2.4 years |
| 2023/24 | £17.45 | £907.40 | £342 | 2.7 years |
| 2024/25 | £17.45 | £907.40 | £342 | 2.7 years |
| 2025/26 | £17.45 | £907.40 | £342 | 2.7 years |
| 2026/27 | £17.45 | £907.40 | £342 | 2.7 years |
When Is It Worth Buying Missing Years?
Buying missing NI years is not always the right move. Before you pay anything, you need to answer three key questions:
1. Will the extra year actually increase your State Pension?
You only benefit from buying a missing year if it takes you closer to the 35-year maximum. If you already have 35 qualifying years, or if you will reach 35 through future employment before reaching State Pension age, there is no point paying for an extra year. Check your State Pension forecast to see exactly where you stand.
2. Could you get the year for free through NI credits?
Before paying voluntary contributions, check whether you are entitled to NI credits for the years in question. You may qualify for credits if you were caring for a child under 12 and claiming Child Benefit, receiving Carer’s Allowance, or claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance. See our guide on NI credits and your State Pension.
3. Do you only need a partial year?
Sometimes a gap year is not entirely empty – you may have paid some contributions during the year but not enough for a full qualifying year. In these cases, you may only need to pay a top-up amount rather than the full annual cost. HMRC can tell you exactly how much is needed.
The Return on Investment
Let us look at a practical example. Sarah is 60 and has 30 qualifying years on her NI record. Her State Pension forecast shows she will receive £197.36 per week. She has five gaps she could fill.
If she buys all five missing years at an average cost of £870 each, she would pay £4,350 in total. This would increase her weekly State Pension from £197.36 to £230.25 – an extra £32.89 per week, or £1,710 per year.
Sarah would recoup her entire £4,350 investment in just 2.5 years of receiving her State Pension. If she lives to the average female life expectancy of 86 (a further 19 years after reaching State Pension age at 67), she would gain roughly £32,490 in additional pension income from a £4,350 investment.
Deadlines for Buying Missing Years
There are strict time limits on how far back you can fill NI gaps:
- Standard rule: You can fill gaps from the previous six tax years. For the 2026/27 tax year, this means you can fill gaps back to 2020/21.
- Extended deadline (now closed): The government offered a special extension until 5 April 2025 that allowed people to buy back years as far as 2006/07. This deadline has now passed.
The six-year window rolls forward each year, so you lose the ability to fill the oldest eligible year every April. If you are considering buying missing years, do not delay.
How to Pay Voluntary Contributions
Follow these steps to buy missing NI years:
- Check your NI record online at GOV.UK to identify any gaps. See our guide on how to check your NI record.
- Call the Future Pension Centre on 0800 731 0175 to confirm that paying voluntary contributions will increase your State Pension.
- Contact the NI Contributions Office on 0300 200 3500 to arrange payment.
- Choose your payment method: You can pay by quarterly direct debit, bank transfer, or as a one-off lump sum.
Payment Reference
When making payment, you will need your National Insurance number and the specific tax year(s) you are paying for. HMRC will provide a payment reference number. Keep records of all payments for your own files.
Special Considerations
If You Were Contracted Out
If you were contracted out of the Additional State Pension through a workplace pension, your starting amount under the new State Pension may include a deduction. In this case, buying extra qualifying years after April 2016 helps to fill the gap between your starting amount and the full new State Pension. Read more in our contracted out guide.
If You Are Self-Employed
Self-employed people pay Class 2 NI contributions, which count towards qualifying years. If you have gaps because you did not pay Class 2 in some years, you can fill them with voluntary Class 3 contributions. However, Class 2 contributions (at £3.45 per week) are cheaper, so check with HMRC whether you can pay Class 2 instead.
If You Live Abroad
You can pay voluntary NI contributions from overseas to maintain your UK State Pension entitlement. You may be eligible for either Class 2 or Class 3 contributions depending on your circumstances. Contact HMRC’s Centre for Non-Residents for guidance. See our guide on the State Pension and living abroad.
Alternatives to Buying NI Years
If buying voluntary contributions does not make sense for you, consider these alternatives:
- Continue working: If you have several years until State Pension age, you may naturally accumulate enough qualifying years through employment.
- Claim NI credits: Ensure you are claiming all credits you are entitled to, including Child Benefit credits and Carer’s Allowance credits.
- Boost your private pension instead: If you already have 35 qualifying years, focus on increasing your workplace or personal pension contributions. See our guide on pension contributions.
- Defer your State Pension: If you can afford to wait, deferring your State Pension increases it by about 5.8% for each year you defer.