If you’ve spent part of your career outside the UK, your State Pension entitlement may not be as high as you expect.
Many British expats miss out on thousands of pounds in retirement simply because they don’t check their National Insurance (NI) record in time.
But right now, there’s a limited-time opportunity to top up missing contributions and increase your pension—it could be one of the best financial decisions you make.
The deadline to fill in gaps in your NI record going back to 2006 is 5 April 2025.
After that, you’ll only be able to go back six years.
What’s Changing with the UK State Pension Top-Ups?
Normally, you can only buy back six years of missing National Insurance contributions.
However, as part of the transition to the new flat-rate State Pension (introduced in 2016), the UK government has allowed people to go back nearly 20 years to plug gaps.
But from 6 April 2025, that window closes permanently.
This means that if you have gaps in your record before 2018, you may never get the chance to fill them again.
For expats, this is especially critical because many have gaps due to years spent working overseas without paying UK NI contributions.
If you miss this deadline, you could be leaving thousands of pounds on the table when you retire.
How Much Is the UK State Pension Worth?
The full new State Pension is currently £221.20 per week (£11,502.40 per year), rising in April 2025 to £230.25 per week (over £11,973 per year).
That’s a significant source of guaranteed, inflation-linked* income in retirement (* depending on where you live).
However, you need 35 years of qualifying contributions to receive the full amount.
If you have fewer than 10 years, you will not receive any UK State Pension at all.
Topping up missing years can be one of the best financial moves you can make, offering a high return on investment for many.
How to Check If You Need to Top Up
🔹 Step 1: Check your State Pension forecast here 👉 www.gov.uk/check-state-pension
🔹 Step 2: If you have missing years, see if buying voluntary contributions makes sense for you.
What If You Can’t Get Through Before the Deadline?
The window to make up missed payments between 2004 and 2018 will close on 5 April 2025 (it has already been extended twice).
However, due to continuing high demand and a horrendous backlog of applications, the government has introduced a softened deadline:
✅ If you request a call-back from the DWP before 5 April 2024, you will still be able to make payments after the deadline.
Case Study: Tom vs. James – A Real-World Example of Taking Action
To illustrate how taking action can make a huge financial difference, let’s look at Tom and James, two British expats who both retired in the Philippines, a country where the UK State Pension increases annually under the triple lock.
🔹 Tom and James are both 64 years old and left the UK 25 years ago.
🔹 Taking separate routes, via multiple expat assignments, they both ended up settling in the Philippines.
🔹 Before leaving the UK, both had 11 years of qualifying NI contributions.
🔹 Neither had made voluntary contributions since moving abroad.
Tom’s Decision: Taking Action Early
✅ Tom requests a call-back from the DWP before 5 April 2024 and qualifies to fill in gaps as far back as 2006.
✅ He buys back 18 extra years of contributions.
✅ He continues making voluntary Class 2 NI contributions from now until his State Pension age of 66.
✅ By the time he retires, he has 31 qualifying years and gains entitlement to a UK State Pension of £10,186 per year in today’s money.
James’ Decision: Waiting Too Long
🚫 James does not request a call-back before the deadline.
🚫 When he finally decides to act, he can only buy back six years of missing NI contributions.
✅ He starts making Class 2 contributions going forward, but by retirement, he has only 19 qualifying years.
✅ He receives a reduced pension of approximately £6,244 per year instead of the full amount.
Financial Impact Over Retirement
- Tom will receive £10,186 per year, while James will receive £6,244 per year.
- Over a 20-year retirement, Tom will collect £100,000 more than James.
- That’s the cost of delaying action—a lifetime of reduced income.
Boosting UK State Pension
FAQs
Yes, British expats can receive the UK State Pension while living abroad.
However, where you live affects whether your pension increases with the triple lock.
Expat retirement: Which countries are affected by Frozen State Pension?
You can check your State Pension forecast and NI record on the UK government website:
You will receive a reduced State Pension based on the number of years you have contributed.
A minimum of 10 years is required to receive any State Pension at all.
Yes, expats can make voluntary Class 2 or Class 3 NI contributions to fill gaps in their record.
Class 2 is significantly cheaper but is only available if you meet certain work-related criteria.
If you have gaps in your record, it’s best to act before 5 April 2025, as the ability to buy back years before 2018 will be permanently removed.
This is only possible for individuals who reached pension age before April 2016 under the old system.
No, voluntary NI contributions are non-refundable, so it’s essential to confirm that topping up your pension makes financial sense before making payments.
This depends on your country of residence and any double taxation agreements (DTAs) between that country and the UK.
You may be taxed in your new country instead of the UK.
Processing voluntary NI payments can take several months, so it’s best to act well before any deadlines.
You can use this site to find out:
Final Thoughts – Act Now Before It’s Too Late
This is a one-off chance to boost your UK State Pension before the rules change forever. If you’re living abroad, checking your NI record and considering a top-up could mean thousands of extra pounds in retirement.
Don’t wait until the last minute. Check your record today, request a call-back if needed, and make an informed decision before the April deadline.
