Voluntary National Insurance

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Check which National Insurance contributions you can pay

Find out if you can pay voluntary National Insurance contributions based on things like your employment status, age and where you live.

From 6 April 2026, the rules have changed if you live or work abroad (or have previously).

If you’re employed

You can pay Class 3 voluntary contributions if you’re employed and the following are both true:

If you’re self-employed

You can pay Class 2 or Class 3 voluntary contributions if you’re self-employed and you either have:

  • a gross income of £1,000 or less
  • a gross income over £1,000, but with profits of less than £7,105

You can also pay Class 2 or Class 3 voluntary contributions if you’re self-employed with a specific job. This applies if you’re any of the following:

  • an examiner, moderator, invigilator or a person who sets exam questions
  • a landlord and eligible to pay Class 2 National Insurance
  • a minister of religion who does not receive a salary or stipend
  • a person who makes investments - but not as a business and without getting a fee or commission

Voluntary contributions count towards your State Pension and some benefits. You can check which benefits your National Insurance contributions count towards.

If you’re both employed and self-employed

You can check your State Pension forecast to find out if you’ll benefit from paying voluntary contributions if you:

  • earn less than £129 from employment
  • have profits of less than £7,105 from self-employment

You can also contact the Future Pension Centre who will check if you have a gap in National Insurance contributions and tell you if it will benefit you to make a payment.

If you’re above State Pension age, you’ll need to contact the Pension Service to check if you have a gap. They will also be able to tell you if it will benefit you to make a payment.

If you’re unemployed

You can pay Class 3 voluntary contributions if you’re unemployed and the following are both true:

  • you’re not claiming benefits
  • you’re not getting National Insurance credits

If you’re over State Pension age

If you’ve reached State Pension age and want to fill in gaps in your National Insurance record you can pay:

Get help working out which National Insurance contributions you can pay

Use the National Insurance contributions checker to find out:

  • if you can pay National Insurance contributions
  • which type of voluntary contributions you can pay
View a printable version of the whole guide

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    1. Find out about delaying your pension

    You might be able to pay voluntary contributions to fill in gaps in your National Insurance record (such as, from when you were not working or claiming benefits).

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