Your National Insurance record and its gaps

What a qualifying year actually is

A qualifying year is a tax year in which you paid enough National Insurance, or received enough National Insurance credits, to count toward your State Pension. For employees, National Insurance is paid automatically through PAYE once earnings pass the threshold. For self-employed people, Class 2 contributions count. And many years count without any payment at all, because National Insurance credits are awarded for periods spent claiming certain benefits, caring for a child under 12 (through Child Benefit), caring for someone else, or being unable to work through illness or disability. A year in which you earned too little to pay National Insurance, but received credits, can still be a qualifying year — which is why a gap on your record is not always a missing year.

How to check your record and forecast

The official route is the GOV.UK service: Check your State Pension forecast. It shows your State Pension age, an estimate of what you will get based on your record so far, how many qualifying years you have, and which years have gaps — and whether each gap can be filled. You will need a Government Gateway account or GOV.UK One Login to sign in. Your National Insurance record itself (year by year, showing which years are full, partial, or empty) is available through the same service. Check both: the forecast tells you what you are on track for, and the record tells you exactly which years are behind it.

Which gaps actually matter

Not every gap is worth filling. A gap matters only if filling it would increase your pension. It will not help if you already have 35 qualifying years, or will reach 35 before State Pension age through future work — voluntary contributions cannot take you above the full rate. It may not help if you were contracted out before 2016 and the extra year does not lift your starting amount. And if you expect to claim Pension Credit, extra State Pension can reduce that benefit. The forecast service shows, year by year, whether a gap is worth filling — that is the check to make before spending anything. Free credits come first: if a gap exists because you were caring, claiming, or ill, you may be able to claim credits for it instead of paying.

The 6-year window

As a general rule, gaps can only be filled for the past 6 tax years, with a 5 April deadline each year. In 2026/27 that means the oldest year still open is 2020/21, which closes on 5 April 2027, while 2025/26 can be filled until 5 April 2032. A special extended window that allowed gaps back to 2006 to be filled closed on 5 April 2025 and has not reopened. If a year you care about is approaching its deadline, do not leave the forecast check until the last week — payments and record updates take time to process.

Frequently asked questions

I have a gap year but I was claiming benefits. Does it count?

Quite possibly. Many benefits carry National Insurance credits, so a year spent claiming can still be a qualifying year. Check your record: if the year shows as full, there is nothing to fill.

Can I fill a gap from 15 years ago?

Normally no. The standard window is the past 6 tax years. The extended window back to 2006 closed on 5 April 2025.

Is the forecast a promise of what I will get?

No. It is an estimate based on your record so far and current law. Your final amount depends on your full record at State Pension age and the rules and rates in force then.