Ensure you get your full state pension

A looming deadline for people to plug gaps in their National Insurance record, to ensure they get the full state pension, has been softened.

Concerns over a rush of last-minute enquiries mean anyone who requests a call back from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on the issue will not be regarded as having missed the 5 April deadline.

People can currently make voluntary extra contributions to plug National Insurance gaps back to 2006.

But, after April’s deadline, this will be limited to the previous six years only.

Some people may have spaces in their National Insurance record if, for example, they have lived abroad or taken time off for caring responsibilities.

A spokesman for the DWP said an online tool would mean that people would be able to make top-up payments after the 5 April deadline, provided they complete the call-back request form ahead of that date.