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Qualifying for a State Pension

You build up your entitlement to the full State Pension and other social security benefits by paying NICs on your earnings. You need to build up enough 'qualifying years' of NICs before you reach State Pension age.

What is a qualifying year?

You need to earn a minimum amount (£4,680 per year in 2008-2009) for it to count as a qualifying year.

How many qualifying years do you need?

Currently men normally need 44, and women normally need 39 qualifying years to get the full State Pension.

However, if you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010 you will need 30 qualifying years for a full Basic State Pension.

Find out more about qualifying years and the State Pension in the leaflet: 'State pensions – Your guide'.

• Changes to the State Pension age
• Download 'State pensions – Your guide' from The Pension Service website Opens new window

Gaps in your NICs record

There could be gaps in your NICs record for various reasons. For example, you have been:

Gaps could reduce your number of qualifying years.

What happens if you don't have enough qualifying years?

If you don't have enough qualifying years when you retire, you may get a reduced State Pension or even none at all:

How to check your NICs record

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) sends out letters ('Gap in your NI record') between September and January each year if you have any gaps in your record. Alternatively, you can request a State Pension forecast and check for yourself.

• Getting a State Pension forecast

Making up a shortfall in your NICs record

It's up to you whether you make up any shortfall. To help you decide, you should get a State Pension forecast. If you're still unsure, try the Citizens Advice service or consult a financial adviser.

• Find your nearest Citizens Advice Opens new window
• Choosing and using a pensions adviser
• Help with PDF files

NIC credits

If you are not liable to pay National Insurance contributions you may be able to get National Insurance credits if you are unable to work, are entitled to certain benefits or in other specific circumstances, for example being on an approved training course or attending jury service.

Home Responsibilities Protection

If you care for a child or a sick or disabled person, gaps in your National Insurance record may be covered by Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP).

• Home Responsibilities Protection

Voluntary contributions

If you don't have any National Insurance credits and you're not covered by Home Responsibilities Protection, you may be able to pay voluntary (Class 3) contributions for the weeks that are missing in your NIC record. The rate is £8.10 per week (2008-2009).

If you are self-employed but exempt from paying Class 2 contributions, you can maintain your NIC record by paying voluntary Class 2 contributions. These are considerably cheaper than Class 3 contributions (the rate for 2008-2009 is £2.30 per week) and they protect your entitlement to more benefits. However, voluntary Class 2 contributions can only be paid if you are self-employed.

If you are thinking of paying, or are currently paying voluntary Class 2 or Class 3 NI contributions and will reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, there may be changes to pensions law which could affect your voluntary contributions.

• Paying voluntary NI contributions on the HMRC website Opens new window

How to pay

If HMRC has written to you about gaps in your NICs record, the letter will tell you how much you can pay if you want to fill the gaps. There'll be a payslip enclosed.

Otherwise, you can ask the National Insurance Contributions Office to check your record and tell you how much you can pay.

• Contact details for National Insurance Contributions Office

There are two main ways of paying your Class 3 NICs, both in arrears:

• monthly by direct debit
• quarterly by having a bill sent to you every 13 weeks (if you live in the UK) – you can pay this bill at a bank, Post Office or by Girobank

You can download a leaflet and a direct debit application form from the HMRC website.

• Download direct debit leaflet and application form (PDF document, 215K) Opens new window
• Help with PDF files

When to pay

You usually have to make up the shortfall for unpaid NICs within six years. For example, Class 3 contributions for the 2007-2008 year must be paid by 5 April 2014. You don't have to pay anything until then, but the rate may increase so it could be cheaper if you do it now.

For the 1996-1997 to 2001-2002 years only, there are special extended limits which mean that you can still pay Class 3 NICs for all those years provided you pay by:

• 5 April 2009 if reach State Pension age on or after 24 October 2004
• 5 April 2010 if you reach State Pension age before 24 October 2004

Any Class 3 NICs paid within these extended limits will also be payable at the original rate for the relevant year.

Keeping up your payments in future

If you're not working or getting NIC credits you may decide to make regular voluntary contributions from now on, to ensure that you get a full State Pension when you retire. You can request form CA5603 from the HMRC National Insurance Contributions Office or download one below.

• Download form CA5503 to pay voluntary NICs Opens new window