If you don't have enough National Insurance contributions or credits for the 2008-09 tax year HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) may send you a 'Gap in your National Insurance record' letter telling you that the year won't count towards your basic State Pension and certain bereavement benefits. The letter explains how you can pay voluntary National insurance contributions to make the year count. Letters will start to be issued from 23 September.
In response to customer feedback the letters will be better targeted this year, therefore, not everyone who has a gap in their National insurance contributions record will receive a gap letter. If you have a gap in your record and don't receive a letter you can still pay voluntary contributions.
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Subject to certain exceptions, letters will be issued to people who are aged 35 or over at 6 April 2010 and who have not already built up the 30 'qualifying years' needed to get a full basic State Pension - find out more about how you qualify for the State Pension by following the first link below.
Read about the State Pension on the Directgov website (Opens new window)
'Gap in your National Insurance record' letter - more information
If you think you have a gap in your National Insurance contributions but don't get a letter, you may still want to pay voluntary contributions in some circumstances.
People who reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010 need only 30 qualifying years to get a full basic State Pension and most can easily build these up without having to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for years where they have gaps. However, eligibility for bereavements benefits (payable, if someone dies, to their spouse or civil partner if under State Pension age, and based on the deceased's National Insurance contributions) is different to eligibility for basic State Pension so you may want to pay voluntary contributions to protect your spouse or civil partner's entitlement to these.
Before you decide to pay you can find out more about qualifying for bereavement benefits by following the first link below.
Follow the second link below for information on whether it might be worth your while topping up your contributions and how to pay.
Do you need to top up your National Insurance contributions?
You can contact the HMRC National Insurance Helpline on Tel 0845 915 5996. They can check your record for the last six tax years and tell you if there is a gap. If there is, they'll tell you whether it is possible to make it up and how to pay.
Do you need to top up your National Insurance contributions?
When and how to top up your National Insurance contributions
The helpline will not be able to give you advice on State Pensions or bereavement benefits - for more information about these benefits follow the links below.
Read about the State Pension on the Directgov website (Opens new window)
HMRC will never send notifications of a gap in your National Insurance record by email, or ask you to disclose personal information by email. If you have received an email claiming to be from HMRC that you suspect may be fraudulent, please forward it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.
