To remind you to check your pension contributions before April 2025.

[AlisonWhatIsTheMatter]

I’ve checked mine and even though I was advised to contract out of SERPS in the late 80s, (currently resting in Phoenix Life) I’m not missing any years of contributions ( I think) my forecast on GOV.UK states I cannot improve my forecast anymore.

I was reminded to check again last night after watching Martin Lewis.

Just a reminder to check your contributions before April 2025 otherwise you might not get another chance to ‘plug in’ any gaps.

I’ve attached my GOV.UK forecast so you can compare what yours states.

If only retirement age was still at 60! I’d have 5 years to go. 😩

Good idea, OP and we can pay back as far as 2006 until April.

What should I be checking?

Any years where you are short the full year of contributions - you can pay something up until April that will get you back the full year for years as far back as 2006.

Ah I see. My not full years are in the mid 90s so nothing I can do about them.

Can anyone explain the benefits of this is you still have many years to go?

@Isthisexpected none, for some people. You will probably have more than 35 working years from when you start work to when you retire so you can afford to ‘skip’ some. But only you know that and I think for a lot of ordinary, PAYE and SE people each missed year can be a significant loss.

If I’ve only lived in this country from 2007, can I still plug “gaps” for years before 2007?

How do I check? Sorry am a bit confused

I wish I’d known of this in my 20’s I have my 3 years at university incomplete. Why do they cut it off? Why can’t you pay in for missing years further back? I wish I could.

@Pytilla you have to go on the government pensions gateway. The op has linked it in the first post I believe. Or Google pension forcast check or something like that. You will need your Gateway ID number and it will tell you if you have missing years, and how many years you still have to contribute

Here’s is the link on the GOV.UK site.

You will need to set up an account if you haven’t used this before. Have your NI number to hand.

www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

I only thought to check last year when there was another Martin Lewis pensions special broadcast. When is your retirement date?

We’re retiring in the same year op! I have 4 more years of NI contributions to make to get to £221 a week. Currently at £196.

I’m no financial advisor so hopefully someone will come along to advise you.

When is your retirement date?

Thank you.

If you go to your NI record checker on gov.uk, it will show which years are complete or not. It says there whether you can still make up the shortfall for any incomplete years.

I can imagine 2037 will be here in no time…😩 Will feel slightly resentful when 2030 comes and goes.

I honestly don’t think I can cope until 2037, I’m knackered!

So if I'm 30 and have 9 years completed, 5 incomplete is there any benefit to me of completing the years? Some of the missing years would need me to pay £800++!!!

Mine says I need to work for 5 more years I'm 49 does this sound correct

Same!

@Yogurtraisins

you need to calculate how many years you have left to contribute and whether, combined with the 9 years you already have, that totals 35. If you have and plan on working those years, then no, it’s not worth you doing it - imv. You might say you want to have 10 years paid in and plan on going abroad so why not pay in that extra one now but it will be £800 whereas if you go to a European country and work, you could pay class2 contributions for that year at about £160.00 instead. So you need to do the calculations

It will mean 5 more years of contributions until you can’t improve your forecast anymore (I believe).

@Newname85 you can pay for 2006-2007 and if you were working in a European country you might only have to pay £160 approx not the full amount £800

I have 3 years more of contributions to get the max but I can't retire until 2047 🤣
At least I'm on track.