Martin Lewis has clarified when it is worth paying to fill gaps in your National Insurance record for state pension purposes. Speaking on a BBC podcast, the money-saving expert responded to 36-year-old listener Holly, who asked whether she should pay to fill two missing years to reach the minimum 10 qualifying years needed for any state pension.
Check Your Pension Projection First
Lewis advised checking your state pension projection on gov.uk before making any decisions. If you are already on track for the full state pension, he said paying for extra years is likely unnecessary. "If you are, I think this is probably overkill, because it's not like once you get to the full state pension, you earn more NI years, you get even bigger than the full state pension," he explained.
The Only Exception: Cheap Partial Years
However, Lewis identified one key exception where paying for gaps could be worthwhile. "The only time I would make an exception on that is if you could buy these years really, really cheaply," he said. While a full year typically costs around £950, some people have bought partial years for as little as £15.
Lewis suggested that if you can secure a partial year for "beer money-type costs" of £15 to £50, it might be worth doing as a safety net. He warned younger people about the risks of paying full price, given potential changes to state pension rules over the next 30 to 35 years.
Final Advice
Lewis concluded by advising anyone considering voluntary contributions to check their National Insurance record for gaps and seek government guidance before making decisions. Listeners can access the full podcast for more details.
