Martin Lewis has shared seven ways people may be able to boost their State Pension, including checking for missing National Insurance credits and filling gaps in their record.
The consumer champion highlighted the checks in the latest edition of the MoneySavingExpert (MSE.com) newsletter alongside an update on planned changes to the State Pension Triple Lock.
Some of the tips could apply to grandparents who have helped with childcare, unpaid carers and people who were self-employed, while others cover buying missing National Insurance years and delaying a State Pension claim. It's important to be aware that the amount of State Pension someone receives depends partly on their National Insurance record.
Seven Checks Highlighted by Martin Lewis
Martin explained that people can build qualifying years through working and earning enough, caring for children or receiving certain benefits.
Under the current system, at least 10 qualifying years are generally needed to receive any New State Pension, while around 35 years are typically needed for the full amount.
1. Grandparents who helped with childcare
People who have helped look after their grandchildren could be missing valuable National Insurance credits. Martin urged grandparents who have provided childcare to check whether this applies to them. These credits can help fill gaps in someone's National Insurance record and potentially increase their future State Pension entitlement.
2. Check whether you can top up missing years
People aged between 40 and 73 who do not have enough qualifying National Insurance years for the full State Pension were urged to investigate whether they can top up their record. Paying voluntary National Insurance contributions can potentially increase someone's eventual State Pension, although whether doing so is worthwhile will depend on their individual record.
3. Consider delaying your State Pension
Martin also highlighted State Pension deferral. People do not have to start claiming their State Pension as soon as they reach State Pension age. His checklist urges people approaching retirement to check whether delaying their claim could be worthwhile as a way of boosting the amount they eventually receive.
4. Check historic Home Responsibilities Protection
People who took time away from work between 1978 and 2010 to care for children or a disabled relative were urged to check their National Insurance record. Martin said hundreds of thousands of people were wrongly left with gaps relating to Home Responsibilities Protection.
He highlighted the example of an MSE reader named Mary who contacted him earlier this year after checking. She said: “A HUGE thank you for highlighting Home Responsibilities Protection, I have just been awarded £16,000.”
5. Self-employed people should check their record
People who were self-employed at any point between 2015 and 2024 are also being urged to check for errors. According to Martin's checklist, up to 800,000 people may have incorrect National Insurance gaps relating to periods of self-employment. An incorrect gap could potentially affect the amount of State Pension someone receives, making it important to check their National Insurance record rather than assuming it is accurate.
6. Some women may have been underpaid
Women who reached State Pension age before 2016 are another group highlighted in the newsletter. Martin said hundreds of thousands of women were underpaid because their State Pension was not increased using the National Insurance record of a husband, late husband or ex-husband. Those who think they could be affected are being encouraged to check whether they may have missed out.
7. Unpaid carers could qualify for credits
Finally, Martin highlighted National Insurance credits available to some unpaid carers. He said people below State Pension age who provide at least 20 hours of unpaid care each week to someone receiving a qualifying benefit, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA), can receive National Insurance credits. This can include people caring for a partner or child.
Martin said Carer's Credit can be backdated by one tax year, while people providing more hours of care may instead qualify for Carer's Allowance.
Current State Pension Rates
The full New State Pension is currently worth £241.30 a week, or £12,548 a year, while the full Basic State Pension is £184.90 a week, equivalent to £9,615 annually. The full guide to boosting State Pension payments is available on MSE.com.
