Urgent warning for millions to do easy pension check before rules change – or miss out on £5,000
HOUSEHOLDS are being warned to carry out an easy pension check which could turn £800 into more than £5,000.
People between the age of 45 and 70 are being urged to check if they are able to boost their state pension.
It takes 35 years of National Insurance contributions to get the full amount of state pension and you can pay for gaps in your record.
People often have gaps if they were unemployed, on a low income, or self-employed.
You can check how many years of NI payments you've made and see any missing years on the .
During an appearance on ITV's Lorraine, Claer Barret, consumer editor of the Financial Times, said you can pay around £800 to fill a missing year.
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And while this may seem like a hefty sum, Claer said it means you get more state pension every year of your life when you retire.
She said: "That £800 investment could bring you thousands in years to come.
"But the rules change in April, and you can only fill gaps going back six years from then. So it's really important to look now before April."
At the moment you can top up for any missing years dating back to 2006 but a six-year limit will return in April 2023, restricting how far you can go back.
National insurance contributions are usually taken directly from your wages if you're employed or via self-assessment for the self-employed.
You can check how many years of NI payments you've made and see any missing years on the .
Until April 5, 2023, workers looking to top up their payments can go back as far as 16 years, which is particularly useful for those near state pension age.
But after this date, you will only be able to go back six years.
The body will be able to tell you whether it's worth you paying for extra qualifying years, as it may not be beneficial for everyone.
Earning back the years isn't free so your voluntary contributions do come at a price.
It works out to be worth £15.85 a week which means it costs £824.20 to buy one year of contributions.
This will add £275 to your state pension every year.
Martin Lewis previously said it will take just three years after getting your pension to break even.
The MoneySaving Expert founder said a man living 19 more years after they reach the state pension age of 66 can expect to get £5,300.
While a woman living 21 more can expect to get £5,800.
But of course, there are risks - if you happened to die before the three years are up then you will have wasted the money, the savings experts explained.
It is important to check if gaps in your contributions - for example when you're not working and looking after children - can be made up by claiming credits instead.
Thousands are thought to be missing out on these NI Credits, leaving them worse off in retirement.
You can check
It explains the circumstances where you'll need to claim and when you'll get it automatically.
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Besides topping up missing NI payments, we explain other ways you can boost your state pension by up to £700 a year.
Plus, pensioners on a low income could get extra help from pension credit - here's how.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk