Voluntary National Insurance contributions 2022: fill gaps in your NI record

What are Voluntary National Insurance contributions? What can I do if I have gaps in my National Insurance record? Your National Insurance record is necessary when assessing how much you could receive through the State Pension. Indeed, if you have any gaps in your record, you could fill them with voluntary National Insurance contributions. This Your Benefits article will tell you everything you need to know.

How can I fill gaps in my National Insurance record?

If you did not pay National Insurance and do not get National Insurance credits, your record could have gaps. Indeed, you may have been working or residing outside the UK. This may also be because you were self-employed and making too small of profits, which is why you did not make contributions.

Additionally, you could have not been getting benefits while being unemployed. Finally, you could have been getting low pay, while being employed. All of these could be reasons why you did not pay and have gaps in your record.

If you have gaps, you could be unable to get certain benefits. Additionally, you will be unable to receive the full rate of State Pension. However, then, you could fill gaps by paying voluntary National Insurance contributions. However, you have to make sure that you qualify.

How do I know if I have gaps in my National Insurance record?

You may check your National Insurance record on the Gov.UK website. Indeed, there, you will be able to see multiple things. In fact, this is not only if you have gaps, but also if you can make voluntary contributions, as well as how much it will be.

You may be caring full time for someone, not be working or be unable to work. If you receive a benefit for one of these reasons, then you could be eligible for National Insurance credits.

Gaps in your National Insurance record may not be the only thing you are unaware about. Indeed, you could be missing out on benefits you are entitled to. However, Your Benefits offers a free simulator which can show you all the financial aid you could receive. And again, it’s completely free!

Furthermore, you may want to save money on all sorts of bills. There, Your Benefits can help as well. Our experts are available to help you save on your water, electricity, phone bill… Indeed, there are a lot of possibilities. Simply ask to be called back to benefit from this service. 

Should I pay Voluntary National Insurance contributions?

You may want to pay Voluntary National Insurance contributions. However, not that they do not increase the amount of State Pension that you get 100% of the time. If you want to make sure of that, you can ask the Future Pension Center. You may call them on 0800 731 0175. 

Additionally, if one of the following applies to you, it could be worth it to make voluntary contributions:

• From the contributions you’ve made, you are aware that you will not be able to receive the full rate of State Pension;
• You are almost State Pension age, and are aware that you lack ‘qualifying years’ and will not be able to receive the full rate of State Pension

Furthermore, certain people do not make Class 2 contributions. This is because of their job. However, they may still want to make voluntary contributions. Indeed, they could not receive a stipend or salary, and be a minister of religion. Additionally, they could be one of the following:

• Individuals in charge of businesses which deal with property and land;
• Invigilators, individuals in charge of determining exam questions, moderators and examiners;
• Individuals in charge of handling money investments (this is for both other people and themselves; however, they must not do it as a job or be paid for it).

What are the voluntary National Insurance contribution rates in 2022?

There are two rates of voluntary contributions that you can make. In the 2022 to 2023 tax year, the rates are £3.15 weekly for Class 2 contributions, and £15.85 weekly for Class 3 contributions.

Note that different rates make you eligible for different benefits. Indeed, this is pointed out in the table above. In order to be eligible for certain benefits, you will need to pay either Class 2 or Class 3 contributions. Keep this in mind, especially if you are able to pay either of those two types.

Note that these are the typical rates that you will need to pay. However, there can be exceptions. If you are not sure if you have gaps in your NI record, or you need to learn more about what to do in your situation, you may contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). You can call them on 0300 200 3500.

Am I eligible to make Voluntary National Insurance contributions?

In order to make voluntary contributions, you must first make sure that you qualify. Furthermore, you may typically only make voluntary contributions for gaps that occurred in the past 6 years. However, this depends on how old you are.

Depending on your situation, you may have to pay Class 2 or Class 3 voluntary contributions. Indeed, you may be one of the following:

• No longer paying a reduced rate of National Insurance, and are a widow or married woman;
•  Both not receiving any benefits and unemployed;
• Both not eligible for National Insurance credits, earning less than £123 weekly and being employed.

If one of these apply to you, you will be able to make Class 3 contributions. Note that this is also the case if you live abroad but do not work. However, you need to have either resided in the UK for a minimum of 3 (consecutive) years or paid 3 years worth of contributions at some points.

You may be at or older than State Pension age. Then, if you want to remedy gaps in your record, you can make Class 3 contributions.

Furthermore, you may be one of the following, a:

• Woman born later than 5 April 1953;
• Man born later than 5 April 1951.

If you qualify, you could have until 5 April 2023 to make voluntary contributions to take care of any gaps in your record. However, those gaps need to have been done between 6 April 2006 and 5 April 2016. 

Voluntary contributions: what if I am in a different situation?

However, one of the following may apply to you instead, you are self-employed, and:

• Considered an examiner, in a business which deals with property or land investments, or a minister of religion;
• Have profits below £6,725, but get more than £1,000 in income;
• Your income is either at or below £1,000.

Then, you would be able to pay either Class 2 or Class 3 contributions. The one that you chose to pay contribute towards different benefits each:

However, you may be residing abroad and working. If this is the case, you could pay Class 2 contributions. However, you need to have either resided in the UK for a minimum of 3 (consecutive) years or paid 3 years worth of contributions at some points.

You could be unqualified to make voluntary contributions. Indeed, this is the case if you qualify for National Insurance credits. Additionally, this is also the case if you are a married woman or widow who has a reduced NI rate.

How to pay Voluntary National Insurance contributions: what are the steps?

There are different ways to pay Class 2 and Class 3 voluntary contributions. You should be able to pay Class 2 contributions through Self Assessment. However, if this is not the case for you, you can pay online. Indeed, this is also the case for Class 3 contributions.

Both types of contributions can be paid online. Moreover, you will be able to fill gaps made in the past 6 years. Furthermore, the deadline for each year is 5 April.For example, currently, you have until the 5 April 2023 for any gaps made in the tax year 2016-2017, but no earlier.

You may also be a woman born later than 5 April 1953, or a man born later than 5 April 1951. Then, you may pay for gaps that occurred between April 2006 and April 2016 until 5 April 2023. 

Additionally, if this is your situation, after that deadline, you will only be able to fill gaps done in the prior 6 years. Also note that in order to receive the new State Pension, your record needs to have at least 4 qualifying years on it. Typically, 10 years a required in total.