HMRC has announced that thousands of people who missed the deadline to top up their National Insurance (NI) contributions for a full State Pension due to a computer error will now be given a final opportunity to make payments. The issue arose when HMRC mistakenly took its online service offline a day earlier than expected, causing frustration for many people who tried to log in on April 5 to purchase missing years of National Insurance. As reported by The Telegraph and Argus, this glitch impacted around 20,000 individuals who were trying to make payments for tax years between 2006 and 2021.
What Happened with the NI Top-Up System?
The error occurred just days before the April 6 deadline, the end of the 2024/25 tax year, when people could top up their contributions to ensure they would receive the full State Pension. With the online system mistakenly shut down on April 5, many people faced computer error messages when trying to complete their payments, missing the opportunity to buy back their National Insurance years for the period from 2006 to 2021.
HMRC has apologized for the glitch and confirmed that it will directly contact those affected, giving them a last chance to pay their missed contributions. A spokesperson from HMRC stated, “We are sorry that customers were unable to use our online service on Saturday to top up National Insurance contributions for years prior to 2021. We will contact anyone affected directly about the payments they wanted to make to ensure they don’t miss out.”
What Does This Mean for State Pension Eligibility?
Typically, individuals need to have paid 35 years of National Insurance contributions to qualify for the full State Pension, which is currently worth £221 per week (rising to £230 next week). For many, this top-up system allows them to “buy back” missing years of NI contributions, helping them meet the required 35 years to receive the full pension amount.
However, since April 6, the ability to buy back contributions has been restricted. People are now only able to top up missing years from 2019 onwards. While those affected by the system error will be allowed to purchase contributions from 2006 to 2021, this opportunity is rapidly closing.
The DWP Call-Back Form and Additional Help
For those who began the process of topping up before the April 6 deadline, they are still eligible to purchase their missing years back to 2006. Those who submitted a call-back request form to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on or before April 5 will still receive a call and be able to complete their payments. As Martin Lewis explained, individuals must ensure that they’ve either completed the online process or submitted the required paperwork before the deadline to ensure they qualify for the full State Pension.
How to Get National Insurance Credits
People who were unable to top up their National Insurance contributions can still obtain NI credits through work or specific benefits. For example, if you’re working and earning over £6,400 a year, you will automatically receive National Insurance credits. Other individuals, such as those claiming child benefit, or carers, may also be eligible for NI credits, provided they meet the necessary conditions.
Those who missed out on National Insurance credits due to time off work, low income, or other circumstances should check if they’re eligible to claim back credits. It’s crucial to ensure you’re making the most of any opportunity to increase your State Pension amount.
