Gap in National Insurance Contributions

[Driver 8]

It's 30 years for men and women. You have 4 years to catch up on.

Driver8 -- any significance to your username? I've seen it before on another forum.

No significance, just my favourite REM track and I drive 30,000 plus miles a year so always seem to be in my car!

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

My wife got a letter last week advising her that there is a gap in her NICs for the 2010-11 tax year.

Now, she already has 26 qualifying years of NICs towards her state pension. They have said she can pay £614.55 to make up the gap. This seems a staggering amount.

I know she doesn't have to pay it but my question is, if she doesn't pay it or doesn't work another four years before she retires, will she simply get 26/30 (87%) of the state pension or is there some other calculation that I don't know about?

I paid 2 years catch up contributions when the qualifying years for men was set at 44 to get a full pension. When it was equalised with women I already had 30 qualifying years

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

My wife got a letter last week advising her that there is a gap in her NICs for the 2010-11 tax year.

Now, she already has 26 qualifying years of NICs towards her state pension. They have said she can pay £614.55 to make up the gap. This seems a staggering amount.

I know she doesn't have to pay it but my question is, if she doesn't pay it or doesn't work another four years before she retires, will she simply get 26/30 (87%) of the state pension or is there some other calculation that I don't know about?

If your missus is going to work at least another 4 years and pay enough NICs there is no need to cough up. If she still falls short of qualifying years the pension will be pro rata , in most cases this is made up with pension credit unless she has been foolish and set aside savings which are above the threshold limit.

 

[Hove Lagoonery]

I paid 2 years catch up contributions when the qualifying years for men was set at 44 to get a full pension. When it was equalised with women I already had 30 qualifying years

I was in the same position, but didn't pay because I thought 40 years was full contributions and I could still make that through employment. This was shortly before the announcement of that concession, which was designed to benefit women.