State Pension top-up calculator
Filling National Insurance gaps is often called the best deal in UK personal finance. This tool shows why — and when it isn't. It computes the payback time on buying voluntary years and what they're worth across a typical retirement.
Your numbers
The payback maths
Teal: cumulative after-tax pension received from the bought years. Grey: what you paid. Where they cross is payback. Real terms — the State Pension is index-linked, so we compare in today's money. Illustration only.
Read before buying anything
- A bought year only pays if it actually increases your entitlement. Pre-2016 records, contracted-out history and years you'd fill anyway by working can make extra years worthless. Check your forecast and ring the Future Pension Centre before paying — they confirm which specific years add value.
- Defaults are 2025/26 figures (Class 3 ≈ £920/year; each year ≈ 1/35 of the full pension ≈ £340/year, taxable). Rates change every April — the fields are editable for exactly that reason. Some self-employed can use far cheaper Class 2.
- The calculation assumes you reach State Pension age; money paid for years you don't live to draw is gone — which is why payback time versus your health and family history is the honest frame.
Background: the State Pension explained — qualifying years, credits you might claim for free instead, and deferral.
Reminder: this tool is general education, not advice. Whether voluntary contributions help depends on your specific NI record — verify with the Future Pension Centre, and for wider retirement decisions consult an FCA-authorised adviser.