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Should I Pay Voluntary National Insurance Contributions?
If you have gaps in your National Insurance record, paying voluntary contributions could help you qualify for a full State Pension or protect your entitlement to certain benefits. This matters if you've had periods of low earnings, unemployment, self-employment with small prof...
Introduction
If you have gaps in your National Insurance record, paying voluntary contributions could help you qualify for a full State Pension or protect your entitlement to certain benefits. This matters if you've had periods of low earnings, unemployment, self-employment with small profits, or time spent abroad. Before paying, it's worth checking whether voluntary contributions will actually improve your pension.
What causes gaps in your National Insurance record?
Gaps in your National Insurance record can occur when you don't pay contributions in a given tax year. Common reasons include:
- Being employed but earning below the threshold where you start paying National Insurance
- Being unemployed and not claiming benefits
- Receiving National Insurance credits for only part of a tax year
- Being self-employed with annual profits below £7,105
- Living or working outside the UK
These gaps matter because you need at least 10 qualifying years to receive any State Pension, and typically 35 qualifying years for the full amount.
How to check if you have gaps
Before deciding whether to pay voluntary contributions, check your National Insurance record online. This will show you:
- Whether you have any gaps in your record
- How much it would cost to fill those gaps
- Whether paying voluntary contributions would actually increase your State Pension
- If you can pay online
You should also check if you're eligible for National Insurance credits, which can fill gaps without you needing to pay. Credits are available in certain circumstances, such as when you're claiming certain benefits or caring for someone.
If you believe your National Insurance record is incorrect, contact HMRC.
Will paying voluntary contributions help you?
Voluntary contributions don't always increase your State Pension. For example, if you were contracted out of the additional State Pension in the past, paying voluntary contributions may not benefit you.
To find out if voluntary contributions would help:
- If you're below State Pension age: Check your State Pension forecast online or contact the Future Pension Centre
- If you've reached State Pension age: Contact the Pension Service
- If you're living abroad and within 6 months of State Pension age: Contact the International Pension Centre
When it makes sense to pay voluntary contributions
You might want to pay voluntary contributions if:
- You're close to State Pension age and don't have enough qualifying years to get the full State Pension
- You know you won't be able to build up enough qualifying years during your working life
- You're self-employed with annual profits below £7,105
- You live outside the UK but want to qualify for the State Pension or certain benefits
- You're not eligible for National Insurance credits
Which type of voluntary contributions can you pay?
The type of voluntary contributions you can pay depends on your circumstances.
If you're employed
You can pay Class 3 contributions if you earn less than £129 per week and aren't eligible for National Insurance credits.
If you're self-employed
You can pay Class 2 or Class 3 contributions if you have:
- A gross income of £1,000 or less, or
- A gross income over £1,000 but with profits below £7,105
Certain self-employed people in specific roles can also pay Class 2 or Class 3 contributions regardless of income:
- Examiners, moderators, invigilators, or people who set exam questions
- Landlords who are eligible to pay Class 2 National Insurance
- Ministers of religion who don't receive a salary or stipend
- People who make investments for themselves or others (but not as a business and without receiving fees or commission)
If you're unemployed
You can pay Class 3 contributions if you're not claiming benefits and not receiving National Insurance credits.
If you're over State Pension age
You can pay Class 3 contributions, or Class 2 contributions if you're eligible based on the criteria above.
Special considerations if you live or work abroad
For the 2025/26 tax year or earlier, specific rules apply if you live or work abroad.
To pay voluntary Class 2 or Class 3 contributions, you must have either:
- Previously lived in the UK for 3 years in a row, or
- Paid contributions (or had Class 2 contributions treated as paid) for at least 3 years in total
To pay voluntary Class 2 contributions specifically, you must also have:
- Worked in the UK immediately before leaving, and
- Been working abroad (or worked while you were abroad)
Note that from 6 April 2026, new rules will apply for people who live or work abroad.
Who cannot pay voluntary contributions?
You cannot pay voluntary contributions if you:
- Don't have gaps in your National Insurance record (unless you're getting Class 3 credits and are eligible to pay Class 2 contributions)
- Are a married woman or widow paying reduced rate National Insurance
- Have passed the deadline for paying contributions for the period with gaps
Working out which contributions to pay
HMRC provides an online National Insurance contributions checker to help you determine if you can pay voluntary contributions and which type suits your situation.
If you're both employed (earning less than £129 per week) and self-employed (with profits below £7,105), check your State Pension forecast or contact the Future Pension Centre to find out if paying voluntary contributions would benefit you. If you're above State Pension age, contact the Pension Service instead.
Sources
This article provides general guidance based on current HMRC rules. For advice specific to your situation, speak to your accountant.