How to Check Your NI Record for Errors

Why Check Your NI Record?

Your NI record is a year-by-year history of your National Insurance contributions and credits. Checking it regularly helps you:

• Identify gaps that could reduce your State Pension
• Spot missing NI credits you're entitled to
• Find errors in your record before deadlines expire
• Plan whether to fill gaps with voluntary contributions
• Understand exactly what your State Pension will be

How to Access Your NI Record

Method 1: Online (Recommended)

The fastest way to check your record is online:

1. Go to: gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record
2. Sign in: Use your Government Gateway User ID and password
   • Don't have an account? Click "Create sign in details"
   • You'll need your National Insurance number
   • You may receive a code by post (takes 5-10 days)
3. View your record: You'll see a year-by-year breakdown from 1975 (or when you turned 16) to present

Method 2: By Phone

Call the National Insurance helpline:

• Phone: 0300 200 3500
• Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm
• They can tell you your qualifying years and identify gaps
• Can send a summary by post

Method 3: By Post

Request a printout of your record:

• Call 0300 200 3500 to request form CA3916
• Or write to: National Insurance Contributions and Employer Office, HM Revenue and Customs, BX9 1AN
• Allow 2-3 weeks for postal response

Understanding Your NI Record

What You'll See

Your online record shows each tax year (6 April to 5 April) with one of these statuses:

✓ Full Year / Qualifying Year

This year counts toward your State Pension. You either:

• Paid enough NI through employment (earned £6,396+ in that year)
• Paid Class 2 NI through self-employment
• Received NI credits (caring, unemployment, etc.)
• Paid voluntary contributions (Class 3)

✗ Year Is Not Full / Gap

This year does NOT count. Common reasons:

• Earned below £6,396 that year
• Self-employed with profits below £6,725 and didn't voluntarily pay
• Living abroad without paying voluntary NI
• Out of work without claiming benefits
• Caring without claiming credits

Partially Filled Year

Some contributions but not enough for a full year. Example: worked part of year, earned £4,000 (below £6,396 threshold).

Year Not Yet Recorded

Recent years (especially current tax year) may show as not recorded yet. HMRC updates records after each tax year ends (5 April), usually by autumn.

Future Years

Years until your State Pension age show as "estimated" based on your current employment status. These are projections, not actual years.

Common Errors to Look For

1. Missing NI Credits

What it looks like: Gap years when you were actually caring, unemployed, or receiving benefits.

Example:

• Year 2020/21 shows as a gap
• But you were claiming Child Benefit for a child under 12
• You should have automatic NI credits

Why it happens:

• DWP/HMRC hasn't updated your record yet (wait 6 months after tax year)
• You needed to apply but didn't (e.g., Carer's Credit)
• Administrative error

How to fix:

• If recent (within last tax year), wait a few more months
• If older, call HMRC: 0300 200 3500
• Have evidence ready (benefit award letters, Child Benefit number)

2. Wrong Employment Record

What it looks like: Year shows as a gap even though you worked and earned £6,396+.

Why it happens:

• Employer didn't report your NI correctly
• You had multiple jobs and each paid below threshold (but combined total was above)
• PAYE error

How to fix:

• Check your P60 for that year (total pay and NI paid)
• Call HMRC: 0300 200 3500
• Provide P60, payslips, or evidence of employment

3. Self-Employment Years Not Recorded

What it looks like: Gaps during years you were self-employed.

Why it happens:

• You were self-employed with profits below £6,725 (exempt from Class 2)
• You didn't complete Self Assessment that year
• Class 2 payment didn't process

How to fix:

• If profits were below £6,725, consider voluntarily paying Class 2 (if within 6 years)
• If profits were above £6,725, call HMRC with your Self Assessment records

4. Gaps You Can Fill That Are About to Expire

What it looks like: Gap years from 6-7 years ago.

Why it matters:

• You can normally only fill gaps from the last 6 tax years
• After that, the deadline expires and you can never fill them

Current exception:

• Until 5 April 2025, you can fill gaps back to April 2006
• After 5 April 2025, only last 6 years

How to act:

• Identify fillable gaps before deadlines expire
• Check your forecast to confirm filling will help
• Pay voluntarily before 5 April each year

5. Child Benefit Credits Going to Wrong Parent

What it looks like:

• Partner A has full years during child-raising years
• Partner B has gaps during same period
• But Partner A already has 35 years, Partner B only has 20

Why it happens:

• Whoever claimed Child Benefit gets the credits
• Only one person per child gets credits

How to fix:

• Transfer credits to the other partner (form CF411A)
• Must be done within 2 years of end of each tax year
• Download from GOV.UK or call 0300 200 3500

Step-by-Step: Checking Your Record

Step 1: Print or Save Your Record

Take a screenshot or print your full record so you can review it carefully.

Step 2: Count Your Full Years

How many years show as "Full year" or have a ✓ tick?

• 35 or more: You'll get full State Pension
• 10-34: You'll get a proportional amount
• Less than 10: You won't get any State Pension (unless you fill gaps)

Step 3: Identify All Gaps

List every year that shows as a gap or "not full". For each gap, ask:

• What was I doing that year?
• Should I have NI credits? (caring, unemployment, benefits)
• Did I work but earn below the threshold?
• Was I living abroad?

Step 4: Check If Gaps Can Be Filled

Look at the gap years:

• Last 6 tax years: Can usually be filled with voluntary NI
• 2006-2017: Can be filled until 5 April 2025 (extended deadline)
• Older than 2006 (or 2017 after April 2025): Cannot be filled

Step 5: Check If Missing Credits Apply

For each gap year, check if you:

• Received Child Benefit (should have automatic credits)
• Claimed JSA, ESA, or Universal Credit (should have automatic credits)
• Cared for someone 20+ hours/week (can apply for Carer's Credit)
• Were a grandparent carer (can apply for Specified Adult Childcare Credit)

Step 6: Compare with Your State Pension Forecast

Check your forecast at gov.uk/check-state-pension

Your forecast tells you:

• How much you'll get based on current record
• Whether filling gaps will increase your pension
• How many more years you need for full pension

Step 7: Take Action

Based on what you found:

• Missing credits: Contact HMRC (0300 200 3500) or apply for credits you're entitled to
• Fillable gaps: Check forecast, calculate if worthwhile, then pay voluntary NI before deadlines
• Errors: Contact HMRC with evidence (P60s, benefit letters, etc.)

How to Report Errors

Contact HMRC

Phone: 0300 200 3500 (Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm)

What to Have Ready

• Your National Insurance number
• Specific tax years with errors (e.g., "2020/21")
• Evidence:
  • P60 or P45 for employment years
  • Benefit award letters
  • Child Benefit number
  • Payslips
  • Self Assessment tax returns

What Happens Next

• HMRC will investigate and update your record if the error is confirmed
• Can take 8-12 weeks
• You'll receive a letter confirming the outcome
• Check your record again after a few months to ensure it's been corrected

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Missing Child Benefit Credits

Sarah's situation:

• Checked her record, found 2015-2020 all show as gaps
• But she was home with children, claimed Child Benefit

What she did:

1. Called HMRC: 0300 200 3500
2. Provided her Child Benefit reference number
3. HMRC investigated and found the credits hadn't been transferred
4. Updated her record - 5 years added
5. Result: +£1,710/year in State Pension (5 × £342)

Example 2: Part-Time Work Below Threshold

James's situation:

• Worked part-time 2018-2022, earned £5,500/year
• Record shows all as gaps (below £6,396 threshold)
• Can't change the past (didn't earn enough)

Options:

• Fill the gaps with Class 3 voluntary NI (£923/year each)
• Total cost: 4 × £923 = £3,692
• Benefit: 4 × £342/year = £1,368/year extra pension
• Break-even: 2.7 years after claiming

Decision: Worth it if James expects to live 3+ years past State Pension age.

Example 3: Grandparent Carer Not Realizing

Margaret's situation:

• Checked record, found 10 gaps from 2010-2020
• Realized she was caring for grandchildren during that time (her daughter claimed Child Benefit)

Problem:

• Specified Adult Childcare Credit exists, but Margaret didn't know
• Can only backdate 3 months

What she could have done:

• Applied for Specified Adult Childcare Credit at the time (form CA9176)
• Would have got all 10 years = £3,420/year extra pension

Lesson: Check your record regularly and apply for credits as soon as eligible.

When to Check

Annually: Check your record once a year, ideally in summer (after tax year ends on 5 April, giving HMRC time to update records).

After major life events:

• Starting or stopping work
• Having children
• Becoming a carer
• Becoming self-employed
• Moving abroad
• Divorce

10 years before State Pension age: Do a thorough check and plan to fill any important gaps.

Every 2-3 years if under 40: Less urgent when young, but still worth checking for errors.