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New - May 2026

State Pension Top-up Calculator: NI Years Worth It?

Find out whether filling gaps in your National Insurance record is worth the cost - and how soon you'd get your money back through a higher State Pension.

Your Details
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Check your NI record on GOV.UK - it shows your qualifying years and any gaps.

Gap Years to Fill

Select which tax years you want to fill. Each row shows the Class 3 cost and the deadline to pay.

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Is Buying Missing NI Years Worth It?

If you have gaps in your National Insurance record, you can fill them by paying voluntary Voluntary National Insurance you can pay to fill gaps in your record - £18.40 a week for 2026/27 - so a year counts toward your State Pension. Only worth paying once you have checked the gap will actually raise your pension. contributions. Each full year you add increases your new State Pension by £6.89 per week (about £358 per year) - provided you're below the 35-year maximum. This calculator shows you the cost, the pension uplift, and how long it takes to get your money back.

The 6-Year Rolling Window

You can normally only fill gaps from the last 6 tax years. In 2026/27, the oldest fillable year is 2020/21 - and it drops off permanently after 5 April 2027. The extended deadline that let people fill years back to 2006/07 closed on 5 April 2025 and was not extended. If you have older gaps, the window has already closed.

What Does It Cost?

You usually pay the current year's Class 3 rate (£18.40/week, £956.80/year in 2026/27) regardless of which gap year you're filling. The exception is the previous two tax years - 2024/25 and 2025/26 - which retain their own historical rates (£907.40 and £923.00 respectively). The calculator shows the exact cost for each year.

When It Doesn't Help

Voluntary contributions won't increase your pension if you already have 35 A tax year in which you paid or were credited with enough National Insurance for it to count toward your State Pension. You typically need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension., and you won't receive any State Pension unless you have at least 10 qualifying years. If you were contracted out of SERPS or the State Second Pension, your starting amount may already exceed the full rate - in which case additional years add nothing. Always check your State Pension forecast before paying.

Free NI Credits

Before paying, check whether you already have NI credits for your gap years. You get credits automatically if you received Child Benefit, Universal Credit, Carer's Allowance, or Jobseeker's Allowance - these count toward your qualifying years at no cost. Check your NI record to see which years are already covered.

When buying one NI year pays for itself One filled year costs about £957 and adds about £358 a year. The cumulative pension boost passes the cost after about 2.7 years and reaches roughly £7,160 over a 20-year retirement. Buy one NI year: when you get your money back cost to fill: £957 £7,160 by year 20 (£358/yr) breakeven ~2.7 yrs 0 5 10 15 20 years receiving your pension Source: gov.uk (voluntary National Insurance) · 2026/27 Class 3 rates ukfinancetools.co.uk
Each filled year costs about £957 and adds about £358 a year - it pays for itself in under three years, then it is pure gain.

Related: our guide to voluntary NI contributions covers the rules and deadlines in full; see also the Pension Lump Sum Tax calculator and the pension annual allowance. Wondering what inflation assumption to use for retirement income planning? The Real Cost of Living tracker shows how inflation differs for retired households - and lets you work out your personal rate.

Sources: GOV.UK - Voluntary NI · NI Record & State Pension · NI Rates & Allowances

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to buy a missing NI year?

For 2026/27, a full year of voluntary Class 3 contributions costs £956.80 (£18.40 per week). You usually pay the current year's rate for all gap years, except the previous two tax years which keep their historical rate - so filling a 2024/25 gap costs £907.40 and a 2025/26 gap costs £923.00.

How much extra State Pension do I get for each year I buy?

Each qualifying year adds £6.89 per week (about £358 per year) to your new State Pension. This assumes you are below 35 qualifying years - if you already have 35 or more, additional years do not increase your pension.

How long until I get my money back?

At current rates, filling one gap year at £956.80 and gaining £358 per year means you break even after roughly 2.7 years of receiving your pension. After that, every year of pension is pure gain.

What is the deadline for filling NI gaps?

You have a 6-year rolling window. In 2026/27, you can fill gaps back to 2020/21. After 5 April 2027, the 2020/21 gap year drops off permanently. The extended deadline to fill years back to 2006/07 closed on 5 April 2025.

Should I pay voluntary NI if I was contracted out?

If you were contracted out of SERPS or the State Second Pension, your new State Pension starting amount may include a Contracted Out Pension Equivalent (COPE) deduction. Additional qualifying years may not increase your pension if your starting amount already exceeds the full rate. Check your State Pension forecast before paying.

Does this calculator cover the basic State Pension?

This calculator covers the new State Pension, which applies if you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016. If you reached SPA before that date, the rules are different and you should contact the Pension Service for advice on the old system.