Paul Sanchez
You can check your National Insurance credits by signing in to the 'Check your National Insurance record' service, which will also activate your personal tax account if you have not already done so. This will allow you to see what you have paid up to the start of the current tax year, any National Insurance credits you have received, and whether you can pay voluntary contributions to fill any gaps. You can also apply for a National Insurance statement from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to check if your record has gaps. The amount of State Pension you receive will depend on how many qualifying years you have paid or were credited with making National Insurance contributions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Online service to check National Insurance record | Available on HMRC website |
| National Insurance record | Shows what you have paid up to the start of the current tax year |
| National Insurance record | Shows any credits received |
| National Insurance record | Indicates gaps in contributions or credits |
| National Insurance record | Indicates if voluntary contributions can be made to fill gaps and their cost |
| National Insurance credits | May be given by the government if unable to pay National Insurance due to illness, caring for someone, etc. |
| National Insurance credits | Can be earned if earning between £123 and £242 a week from one employer |
| National Insurance credits | Can be earned if self-employed and paying National Insurance contributions |
| National Insurance credits | Can be earned if employed and earning over £242 a week from one employer |
| National Insurance credits | Can be paid voluntarily to fill gaps in contributions record |
| National Insurance credits | Can increase entitlement to benefits, including State or New State Pension |
| National Insurance credits | Minimum amount required for a "qualifying year" towards overall contributions record |
| National Insurance credits | Usually need 10 qualifying years for any new State Pension |
| National Insurance credits | Can request a printed statement of record from HMRC |
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What You'll Learn
Check your National Insurance record online
You can check your National Insurance record online by signing in to the 'Check your National Insurance record' service on the HMRC website. This will also activate your personal tax account if you have not already done so.
Your National Insurance record will let you see:
- What you have paid up to the start of the current tax year.
- Any National Insurance credits you have received.
- If gaps in contributions or credits mean some years do not count towards your State Pension (they are not 'qualifying years').
- If you can pay voluntary contributions to fill any gaps and how much this will cost.
A minimum amount of contributions or credits is required for a year to count as a 'qualifying year' towards your overall contributions record. You will usually need to have 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any new State Pension.
You can also apply for a National Insurance statement from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to check if your record has gaps. If you think your National Insurance record is wrong, you can contact HMRC.
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Understand qualifying years
A 'qualifying year' is a tax year (April to April) during which you have paid, have been treated as having paid, or have been credited with enough National Insurance Contributions (NICs) to make that year count towards a Basic State Pension. This can be done by paying National Insurance on "at least 52 times the Lower Earnings Limit". For example, for the year 2019-2020, the lower earnings limit was £118 per week, so you would need to have been paying NICs on a salary of at least £6,136.
Qualifying years on your National Insurance record affect how much State Pension you are entitled to. To be eligible to claim a state pension when you reach state pension age, you will need to have enough qualifying years on your National Insurance record. The number of qualifying years you need to have on your record depends on whether you are claiming the new state pension or the basic state pension. For the new state pension, you usually need 35 qualifying years, while for the basic state pension, the number of qualifying years required is 30. More than 30 qualifying years does not mean that you will get more than the full Basic State Pension.
National Insurance credits (NI credits) are made for specific weeks in a tax year. For example, if you receive carer's allowance for the first four weeks of the tax year, your NI credits relating to the carer's allowance apply for those four weeks. You can also receive National Insurance credits if you claim child benefit.
If you have gaps in your National Insurance record, you may be able to pay voluntary contributions to fill them in. However, voluntary contributions do not always increase your State Pension, so it is important to check your State Pension forecast to find out if you will benefit from paying voluntary contributions. You can also contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you think your National Insurance record is incorrect.
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How to fill gaps in contributions
Gaps in your National Insurance record can occur for many reasons, such as unemployment, low earnings, self-employment, missing NI numbers, living or working abroad, or taking time off to raise a family. These gaps can negatively impact your eligibility for state benefits and pensions, so it is essential to address them. Here are some ways to fill in the gaps in your National Insurance contributions:
Voluntary National Insurance Contributions
You may be able to pay voluntary contributions to fill any gaps in your National Insurance record if you are eligible. These contributions are typically “Class 3” contributions but can also be “Class 2” for some self-employed individuals. You can pay these contributions online, via Direct Debit, bank transfer, or cheque. The deadline to make voluntary contributions for the previous year is usually April 5 of each year. For example, you have until April 5, 2026, to make up for gaps in the tax year 2019-2020.
National Insurance Credits
You may be eligible for National Insurance credits if you are unable to work, are unemployed, or are caring for someone full-time. These credits can help fill in the gaps in your National Insurance record and may be claimed through HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Buying National Insurance Years
If you are between the ages of 45 and 73, buying extra National Insurance years could significantly boost your state pension. Based on 2022/23 rates, buying a full National Insurance year could increase your State Pension by £275.08 annually.
Claiming NI Credits
Ensure you have claimed all the NI credits you are due. Most people will have already received their NI credits, but if you haven't, make sure to claim them.
Financial Advice
Before deciding to make voluntary contributions, it is recommended to seek financial advice to determine if it is the right decision for your circumstances. You can contact the Future Pension Centre or seek advice from organisations like Advice NI or financial advisers.
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Eligibility for voluntary contributions
You might be able to pay voluntary contributions to fill in gaps in your National Insurance record. This could be from when you were not working, claiming benefits, or earning enough income to pay National Insurance contributions.
You can check your State Pension forecast to find out if you’ll benefit from paying voluntary contributions. If you’re below State Pension age, you can contact the Future Pension Centre, who will check if you have a gap in National Insurance contributions and tell you if it will benefit you to make a payment. If you’re above State Pension age, you’ll need to contact the Pension Service to check if you have a gap and if it will benefit you to make a payment.
If you live or work abroad, or have previously done so, there may be specific requirements that apply to your situation. You can only pay voluntary contributions for the past 6 years, with the deadline being 5 April each year. For example, you have until 5 April 2026 to make up gaps for the tax year 2024 to 2025.
You may want to pay voluntary contributions if:
- You’re close to State Pension age and do not have enough qualifying years to get or increase your State Pension.
- You know you will not be able to get the qualifying years you need to get the full State Pension during your working life.
- You’re self-employed and have annual profits of less than £6,845.
- You live outside the UK, but you want to qualify for certain benefits or the State Pension.
- You’re not eligible for National Insurance credits.
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Contact HMRC if your record is wrong
If you believe there are discrepancies in your National Insurance record, you should contact HMRC. HMRC can be contacted in the following ways:
Online
You can access your personal tax account or use the HMRC app to confirm your National Insurance number. To check your record, you will need a Government Gateway User ID and password. If you do not have one, you can create one.
By Phone
HMRC can be called through the following phone numbers: 0300 200 3300 or, if you cannot hear or speak on the phone, dial 18001 then 0300 200 3300 (Relay UK). The phone lines are open between Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm, and they are closed on weekends and bank holidays.
By Post
You can request a printed National Insurance statement by post. You will need to specify which years you want your statement to cover.
In Person
If you have a complaint, you will need to visit HMRC in person.
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Frequently asked questions
You can check your National Insurance credits by signing in to the 'Check your National Insurance record' service online. This will also activate your personal tax account if you have not already done so.
You will be able to see what you have paid up to the start of the current tax year, any National Insurance credits you have received, and whether you have any gaps in contributions or credits that might affect your State Pension.
If you find gaps in your National Insurance record, you may be able to pay voluntary contributions to fill them. You can check your eligibility and find out how much this will cost by signing in to your National Insurance record online.
You will need a minimum number of contributions or credits in a tax year for it to count as a 'qualifying year' towards your overall contributions record. You can request a State Pension statement to see if there is any shortfall in your contributions and decide if you need to make up any gaps.
You can apply for a National Insurance statement from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to check if your record has gaps. You can also request a printed statement for specific years from the 'Check your National Insurance record' service.
