Bryan HayThe government has launched a new online service to help individuals check and fill gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record, which is crucial for securing the expected State Pension. This digital service allows users to easily identify and pay for any missing contributions directly.
Alice Haine, personal finance analyst at Bestinvest by Evelyn Partners, commented on the new service: “The government’s new online voluntary National Insurance payments service will hopefully speed up the cumbersome process for people looking to plug any gaps in their contribution record to secure their entitlement to a full State Pension.”
Previously, the process involved multiple steps including checking for gaps, consulting the Future Pension Service, and obtaining a payment reference number from HMRC. Now, users can manage everything through their Personal Tax Account or the HMRC app, streamlining the entire process.
This new system comes at a time when taxpayers can backdate their NI contributions as far back as April 6, 2006, due to a temporary government concession that will expire on April 5, 2025.
Haine stressed the importance of this initiative: “Making it easier for people to make these payments will not only ease taxpayer stress but also the burden on HMRC.” She highlighted the urgency for individuals needing to update their records, especially with the upcoming deadline.
