National Insurance contributions

[Penny Whistle]

I retired aged 55. For the next 7 years I was not in paid employment and paid no NI. I then went back into paid employment and started paying NI again. I am now 72 yo and have only just found that I could look at my NI contribution history online, which confirms that no contributions were made in those 7 years and that I had 40 years of full contributions. For each of the "missing" 7 years it states that I could make a contribution of just over £800 - but it is not clear whether that would be a single payment to cover all years, or that amount for each year.

How do I determine whether I should make these extra contributions or not ?

[Countdown]

To buy extra years of contributions it’s £800 per year.

However if you’ve already got 40 years I think you’re entitled to a full state pension so I’m not sure why you’d want to pay more?

[Mr Pointy]

Are you drawing your State Pension? If you are I don't think you can buy any more years of NI contribution. If you have deferred your SP & aren't drawing it then you can't use the online forecast service & you'll have to contact the pension Service, but given your age they should have written to you anyway to tell you what your SP is.

https://www.gov.uk/contact-pension-service

[Penny Whistle]

Yes I am drawing my state pension, so it seems there's no point in buying the extra contributions. Thanks both.

Edited by Penny Whistle on Monday 1st January 10:21

[soad]

Will gain nothing by paying for any extra years.