UK State Pension NI years checker 2026/27. Free, private

Should you buy missing National Insurance years?

Enter your birth date and the qualifying years on your GOV.UK State Pension forecast. See your State Pension age, how many years you will reach, and whether buying voluntary Class 3 years for recent gaps pays back, with the deadline for each.

Written from the published rules without a live lookup. Rates and rules change; GOV.UK and the Future Pension Centre decide. Not financial advice.

Your record

Date of birth (born on or after 6 April 1960)

Today

Qualifying years so far (from your forecast)

Years you will still pay NI or get credits (blank = every year to State Pension age)

Gap years in the last 6 you could still fill (0 to 6)

Cost of one voluntary year (£)

Full State Pension per week (£)

Your forecast weekly amount, if you have one (£, optional)

Plan to age

Enter the details, then click Check my years.

Result

Item	Value

Deadlines to fill a gap year

Tax year	Last day to pay

What it does, and what it leaves to you

Covers: State Pension age for birth dates from 6 April 1960 (66 to 68), the 35-year and 10-year rules, projected qualifying years, the cost, extra weekly pension and payback of voluntary years, and the six-year deadlines.
Gives: a plain verdict, the arithmetic behind it and a text file for your records.
Not decided: which of your past years are actually gaps (your National Insurance record on GOV.UK shows that), the starting amount for years before April 2016, contracted-out adjustments, Pension Credit and other benefit interactions, the exact Class 3 rate for each older year, Class 2 for the self-employed, tax on the pension, and future rate rises. The Future Pension Centre and an adviser decide these.

Common questions

How many National Insurance years do I need for the full State Pension?

You need 35 qualifying years for the full new State Pension and at least 10 to get anything. Each qualifying year adds one thirty-fifth of the full amount, about £6.89 a week in 2026/27.

Is it worth paying voluntary National Insurance contributions?

Often yes, when you will not reach 35 years otherwise. A year of Class 3 costs about £923 at the 2025/26 rate and adds about £359 a year of pension for life, so it pays back in around 2.6 years of retirement. It is worth nothing once you already have 35 years.

How far back can I fill gaps in my National Insurance record?

Generally six tax years back. The special extended window for older gaps closed on 5 April 2025, so each year's deadline now arrives six years after it ends and you lose the chance if you wait.

What is the minimum number of years for any State Pension?

Ten. With fewer than 10 qualifying years, no new State Pension is paid. If you are close, buying the missing years is the most valuable use of the scheme.

Is my data uploaded anywhere?

No. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is sent.