national insurance contributions

[pushybabe1]

not sure if this is the right place for this but here goes, i know that both male and females now only have to have paid in 30 years contributions to qualify for state pension at retirement age, but as i now am under the working threshold for paying either tax or NI would this mean that i am going to have a shortfall when i reach pension age

[dasherman]

If your earnings are below the primary threshold of £139 per week you don't pay NI, but you will have NI contributions added to your record as long as you earn at least as much as the lower earnings limit, which is currently £102 p/w or £5,304 per year.

[boxtops]

pushybabe, apply for a pensions forecast through the HMRC website, it's really easy.

[pushybabe1]

thanx boxtops might just do that

[1eyedjack]

In the worst case you can pay voluntary class 3 contributions, but they are a bit expensive I think. As your retirement approaches I believe you are normally given an opportunity to "buy in" for shortfall years. And don't forget that if you don't have the full 30 years it does not mean you get nothing, just not full whack