Money · NI gap check
National Insurance Gap Check
Find out how many qualifying NI years you have, what a gap year costs to fill voluntarily, and what it means for your state pension.
Instant result
Plain-English why
Copyable takeaway
What this means
No waffle. Just the number and how it was worked out.
Formula used
Pension uplift = (gap years × (full pension / 35)) × years to draw down. Fill cost = gap years × Class 3 weekly rate (£17.45) × 52.
Worked example
A 45-year-old with 18 qualifying years and 4 gap years can fill them for around £3,629 total. The annual state pension uplift is roughly £659, recovering the cost in under 6 years.
Common questions
Where do I find my actual NI record?
On the HMRC website via Government Gateway. Your record shows qualifying years, gaps, and your forecast state pension.
Is it always worth filling gaps?
Usually yes, given the payback period is typically 5–7 years and you may draw the pension for 20+ years. But the decision depends on your overall financial position — this tool gives the numbers, not the advice.
Plain-English summary
The result summary for this calculator will live here.
This section translates the result into a short, direct takeaway rather than leaving the page at a bare number.
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