Gaps in state pension

[Bebobasil]

I have gaps for several years. Two are still in the extended pay the extra dates.
im trying to work out if I should pay them. I don’t get dc benefit because my dh earns too much, most years are ‘full’ through employment but I had a few years between starting working age 16 and 20 where I didn’t work and these are showing as not full, two of those tax years I can pay the gap for but I only have until today to do so as that’s the hmrc deadline.
I’m 39 now.

I think it’s 35 years you need for the full rate pension, will you be able to contribute for that many by retirement age? If so then don’t pay, if you need those years then do pay if you can afford it.

You can still claim child benefit and either not receive it or DH pays it back. That way you still get the NI credits if you need them and DC will get NI numbers when they turn 16. I think you can or soon will be able to retrospectively claim credits for this.

Currently only need 35 years and you have nearly 30 left before retirement so you are unlikely to need to fill in the gaps. The only situation it would be worth doing so is if you are only a couple of weeks short do the amount is minimal.

Not necessarily for anyone born last century, the 35 years only applies to those falling completely under the new rules introduced in 2016. Others may need more or less - you should check you state pension forecast to find out how many more you might need.

As the previous poster says, you can claim just the credits associated with child benefits however much a parent earns. I believe HMRC are introducing something next year to allow parents who didn't claim CB because they thought they weren't entitled due to earnings to retrospectively claim the credits.

As above, 35 years relates to the revised scheme introduced in 2016.

If most of your working life was before 2016 and you were 'contracted out' of the second State Pension (SERPS et al) then those pre 2016 years do not count in full for the new scheme.

I left a public sector job with a contracted out pension in 2013. Having paid NI on part time earnings since 2015 I will just have enough in the new scheme to get the full pension when I hit 66 in December.

There are a lot of other people out there who worked and paid contracted out NICS then stopped contributing when the retired at 60 or before who will not get the full £225 or thereabouts after next weeks uprate.

@Bromptotoo i was paye in 2001/02 with a company and then in 02/03 i was temping all part time around school. On the hmrc app those years are saying full?

A few years then say ‘year is not full’ and that is what I’m trying to pay. Hmrc says I will get the full pension if I contribute another 14 years before 2053. I’ve attached a picture as feeling particularly daft. Hoping I only have 14 years to pay now!

Oh image posted says is under review for some reason but anyway says 14 years on hmrc so I’m assuming that’s correct!

Yes, this means you need to contribute another 14 years before 2053 to get the full state pension. It would be pointless paying any gaps at the moment if you plan to continue working for at least the next 14 years.