National insurance contributions - state pension

[sonicmum2002]

Am hoping some knowledgeable mumsnetters can help!

I have 34/35 NI qualifying years for my state pension. Since April 2023, I had no income for 4 weeks, then claimed JSA for 4 weeks (alongside a 2.5 hour/week). After JSA I started back at work, and am back paying full NI contributions. My question is: will the gaps in NI for this year (probably 8-10 weeks in total) mean that I haven't got the full qualifying year for the state pension?

Thanks in advance!

You need to ask the Gov for a forecast - there’s a form online

When you have a look you can buy back any lost contributions.

You then claim full pension.

Its worth a look and the deadline has been extended to April 2025 for any buy back up to 16 years after which it’s reduced to 6 years buy back.

It’s taking a while so get your application in

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

A break of that type is very unlikely to affect your pension particularly as you'd be credited contributions for the period you were on JSA.

I worked full time from age 18 to 54 - 1978 to late 2013. In tax year 2014/15 I did no paid work and did not claim JSA - my pension would have meant I got no cash. From September 15 on I worked but initially only for a handful of hours. Too little to pay NI but increased by 2016.

My record shows nil contributions for 2014/15 and insufficient for 2015/16.

You should however get a prediction and/or a copy of your NI record.

The real bear trap is elsewhere....

If, under the pre 2016 pension regime, you had an occupational pension and were 'contracted out' then 35 years may not be sufficient for the full new pension of £203.85.

If you're still working and paying NI you can 'catch up' or if no longer in employment buy in the missing years.

To clarify the above I got early retirement and the employer's pension meant JSA was tapered to nil. With hindsight I should have applied for it anyway and got the NI credits.

Thanks for your replies! Thankfully I've never been contracted out.

My government gateway record shows that I have 34/35 qualifying years. This is my 35th year, and I won't have paid NICs for the full year. I'll have about 4-5 weeks' gap for this year. So I don't know if this will count as a full year.

Hi @sonicmum2002 I do two part time jobs and was worried I've have a gap during the last tax year (due to shifting my hours around). I had to wait until after April 6th to check, but they were very helpful when I contacted HMRC. I wouldn't have thought that a 4-5 week gap would be a material issue, but check after the end of the tax year and you can backdate anything you have missed.

Thanks everyone. I rang Pensions Futures, and it seems like as long as you earn £6300 over the tax year, you pay enough NIC for a qualifying year.

@sonicmum2002 I check my NI record each January for the previous tax year. If it shows a partial year it will tell you how much to pay to make it a full year. As you have found out it’s not if you pay NI each week/month but the total for the year.