National Insurance and your state pension
The State Pension isn't handed out automatically at a set age — you have to earn it, one National Insurance year at a time. Every year you work and pay NI, get NI credits, or make voluntary contributions counts towards your total. You need at least 10 qualifying years to get anything at all, and 35 to reach the full new State Pension of £230.25 a week. This section covers how the counting works, how to check your own record for gaps, whether it's worth paying voluntary contributions to fill them, how credits work if you're caring for someone or claiming benefits, and what "contracting out" means if you worked between 1978 and 2016.
How many NI years do I need?
Why 35 years gets you the full amount, why 10 is the bare minimum, and how the maths works in between.
How to check your NI record
Step-by-step on finding your record online, spotting gaps, and understanding what each year shows.
Voluntary NI contributions — worth it?
When paying to fill a gap pays for itself, and when it doesn't. The break-even maths explained.
NI credits for carers and parents
How Child Benefit, Carer's Allowance and other credits can fill years without you paying a penny.
Contracting out explained
Why some people's starting amount looks lower than expected, and what it means for topping up now.
Not sure your NI record adds up to what you'll actually receive? Head to how much the state pension pays to see how qualifying years translate into a weekly amount.