CHECK YOUR STATE PENSION ENTITLEMENT

HMRC have developed an app that can help people prepare for their retirement.  Individuals can use the app to check their State Pension Forecast, allowing them to:

• see their State Pension age;
• view their forecast State Pension amounts based on potential contributions; and
• view how much their State Pension would currently be worth, based on National Insurance contributions to date. 

The app can also be used to check National Insurance contribution (NIC) years, and view any gaps in your record, including how many weeks you have paid and how much you need to pay for it to become a full qualifying year.  If you have any NIC ‘gap years’, you may be able to make voluntary payments online or through the HMRC app.  Note that you have until 5 April 2025 to make up any gap years since 2006/07. Contributions made prior to 5 April 2025 will be at the Class 3 voluntary NI rate of £15.85 per week (£824.20 p.a.) which will provide an additional £342.86 a year State pension – a pretty good return! From 6 April 2025 it will only be possible to go back 6 years.