In 30 seconds
- A full year of Class 3 voluntary NI costs £956.80 in 2026/27 (£18.40 a week).
- Each year added is worth about £359 a year of State Pension, for life.
- That pays back in about 2 years 8 months once your pension starts.
- Only pay for years your GOV.UK forecast says will increase your pension. You can usually go back six years.
Key figures
Rates for 2026/27 from GOV.UK.
What voluntary contributions buy you
Your State Pension depends on how many "qualifying years" you have on your National Insurance (NI) record. Each year you add increases the new State Pension by one thirty-fifth of the full rate, until you reach the full amount.
In 2026/27 that is:
- £6.89 a week, or about £359 a year, for every year added;
- paid for the rest of your life, and rising each April under the triple lock.
If you have gaps, for example from years spent abroad, caring without claiming credits or earning too little, you may be able to fill them by paying voluntary contributions.
What it costs in 2026/27
| Type | Who can usually pay it | A week | A full year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 3 | Most people with gaps, including employees and people not working | £18.40 | £956.80 |
| Class 2 | Self-employed people with low profits, and some people working abroad | £3.65 | £189.80 |
How quickly it pays for itself
This is why voluntary NI is often described as one of the best-value purchases in personal finance. Once your State Pension starts:
| Class 3 | Class 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of one year | £956.80 | £189.80 |
| Extra State Pension a year | about £359 | about £359 |
| Time to get your money back, before tax | about 2 years 8 months | about 6 months |
If the extra State Pension is taxed at 20%, the Class 3 payback stretches to about 3 years 4 months. Either way, someone who lives an average length of time after State Pension age gets back many times what they paid.
When it is not worth paying
Voluntary NI is only good value if the year actually raises your State Pension. It does not in these cases:
- You will reach 35 years anyway. If you will keep working or getting credits until State Pension age, the gap may fill itself.
- You were contracted out before 2016. Some years before 2016 may not change your forecast, while years after 2016 do. Your forecast shows the difference.
- You are already at or above the full amount. You can't go above the full new State Pension by paying extra, unless you had a protected payment from before 2016.
- You expect to claim Pension Credit. Extra State Pension can reduce Pension Credit pound for pound, so you may gain little.
- Your health means you may not draw it for long. The payback takes a few years, and nothing is refunded if you die before State Pension age.
- You reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. You are on the old system, and voluntary contributions can't increase your amount.
How to check and pay, step by step
- Get your forecast. Sign in to Check your State Pension forecast. It shows your gaps and, crucially, whether paying for each one would increase your pension.
- Check which years are worth it. The service flags years that would add to your pension. Ignore the ones that would not.
- Check you are not getting credits. If you were claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12, caring, or on certain benefits, you may have been due free credits instead. Ask HMRC before paying.
- Pay. For many people, the forecast service lets you pay online. Otherwise, contact HMRC's National Insurance helpline for a payment reference.
The deadline: six years back
You can usually pay for gaps in the last six tax years only. The deadline for each year is 5 April, six years after that year ends. For example, gaps in 2025/26 can be filled until 5 April 2032. Years older than that usually can't be filled any more.
If you are within a few years of State Pension age, it is worth checking now rather than later, so you don't lose the oldest year that is still open.
Estimate your State Pension with more NI yearsFree, no sign-up, nothing you type leaves your browser.
Open the calculatorCommon questions
Can I pay voluntary NI if I live abroad?
Often yes. If you have lived or worked in the UK before, you may be able to pay Class 3, or sometimes the cheaper Class 2, while living abroad. Check the conditions on GOV.UK.
Do I get the money back if I die before State Pension age?
No. Voluntary contributions usually can't be refunded, and nothing is paid out if you die before you start drawing your State Pension.
I'm already getting my State Pension. Can I still pay?
Often yes, for gaps within the time limit, if you reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016. If you reached it before then, you are on the old system and voluntary contributions can't increase your amount.
Is the payback taxed?
The extra State Pension is taxable income. At 20% tax, a Class 3 year pays back in about three years and four months instead.
Sources
This guide is general information, not personal financial advice. Rules can change and your situation may differ. For free, impartial help, contact MoneyHelper, or speak to a regulated financial adviser.
