40 or 35 years UK pension

[Donegalcelt]

I have 23 years paid pension in UK. Applied to HMRC to pay voluntary contributions, received a letter with figures for an additional 17 years at Class 2. This would bring my years up to 40 but I thought maximum was 35 years. Would paying the additional 5 years give me any increase in final pension figure?

 

[Lisgoold]

Was some, or all of your 23 years, contracted out? As in, were you in a DB scheme, possibly in the public sector? If so, you were paying a lower rate of NI.
35 years is only really relevant, for people who started paying NI from 2016 onwards, which is when the New state pension was introduced.

If you have work history pre 2016, then the amount of years needed, can vary from around 29, up to 47 or 48.

If you have access to your online account, it will tell you if you were contracted out

 

[Kev1964]

Was some, or all of your 23 years, contracted out? As in, were you in a DB scheme, possibly in the public sector? If so, you were paying a lower rate of NI.
35 years is only really relevant, for people who started paying NI from 2016 onwards, which is when the New state pension was introduced.

If you have work history pre 2016, then the amount of years needed, can vary from around 29, up to 47 or 48.

If you have access to your online account, it will tell you if you were contracted out

Spot on. I was contracted out for most of my time there and have to pay 38 years to get the maximum UK state pension. You can phone the helpline to establish this if you don’t have an online profile.

I’d add that I don’t think they will just ask you to pay up to the level you need to get the maximum state pension and then stop. There are other social welfare benefits that one might benefit from by continuing to pay NICs beyond the 35/38/40 years ….or whatever it is for an individual.