Britons trying to top-up state pensions ahead of a crunch deadline can get an extra month to make payments by logging into their National Insurance records.
If you currently click ‘view details’ on any years for which you might want to make voluntary contributions, you automatically get another month to pay
Using this little-known trick means if you do this for example on 4 April, you will be given until 4 May to pay.
The Government’s official deadline for a special offer to buy missing years going as far back as 2006 is 5 April.
But earlier this month phone gridlock already forced it to soften the cut-off date on the deal.
Using a new callback request option before 5 April means even if you don’t hear back from helpline staff before that date, you will still be able to buy missing years going as far back as 2006.
Callback request page: The official deadline on special deal is 5 April, but there are ways to get extra time
It is unclear how long the callback service will remain available, and This is Money is trying to establish this.
People wanting more breathing space to buy top-ups should therefore request a callback, or click on ‘view details’ on years they might want to buy on their NI record, or do both.
Buying top-ups can give a generous boost to retirement income if you buy the correct years on your record.
But we receive many complaints from readers about long waits to find out vital information about which years are worth buying, and for payments to get processed.
This is Money’s guide to buying state pension top-ups explains the cost and offers six golden rules on deciding if you should fill gaps by Steve Webb, our retirement columnist.
HMRC is responsible for maintaining National Insurance records, which you must check for gaps in your state pension records, and processing top-up payments.
The Department for Work and Pensions is in charge of revising state pension forecasts or payments after purchases.
Are you trying to buy state pension top-ups by 5 April? Write to: pensionquestions@thisismoney.co.uk.
