A simple online check might make a big difference to your State Pension
Financial expert Martin Lewis is urging anyone aged 40 to 73 to check their National Insurance (NI) record before 5 April 2026 — doing so could boost your future State Pension by thousands of pounds.
Many people may be missing NI credits, especially parents who claimed (or had a partner claim) Child Benefit, which can affect your pension entitlement. In some cases, households have unknowingly missed out on years of credits.
To receive the full State Pension, you typically need 35 qualifying NI years — and you can still top up missing years, but only until the deadline. After 5 April 2026, some older gaps can no longer be filled.
The Government has now launched an online service where you can:
- Check your State Pension forecast
- See which NI years you’re missing
- Pay for voluntary top-ups securely online
If you’re between 40 and 73, this is definitely worth checking — it could make a significant difference to your retirement income.
For more details and guidance from Martin Lewis click on the web link here
