The government has introduced a new online service allowing individuals to identify gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record and make voluntary contributions without needing to call for a reference number. Your NI record determines your eligibility and the amount you can claim for the state retirement pension and other contributory social security benefits. Typically, NI contributions are made by employees and the self-employed based on their earnings, while some individuals receive NI credits. If there are gaps in your NI record, you may want to consider making voluntary contributions.

This new service also indicates whether paying voluntary contributions will increase your state pension amount. However, it’s crucial to first check if any contributions or credits are missing from your record. You should also assess whether you’ll accumulate enough qualifying years before your expected state retirement age, as this could make voluntary contributions unnecessary.

Previously, individuals could identify gaps in their NI record online through their personal tax account but had to phone HMRC to obtain a payment reference, enabling HMRC to allocate payments correctly. Now, that step is no longer required. Payments can be made securely through the new service, with confirmation provided once the payment is completed and your NI record updated. To access this service, you need to sign in with your personal tax account details. The service is also accessible through HMRC’s app. Typically, voluntary NI contributions can only be made for the past six tax years. However, an extension is currently in place, allowing individuals to fill gaps in their NI record between 6 April 2006 and 5 April 2018 by making contributions until 5 April 2025.