The payment of National Insurance contributions provides the mechanism by which an individual builds up their entitlement to the state pension and certain contributory benefits. Different classes of contribution provide different benefit entitlements.
Employed earners pay Class 1 contributions where their earnings exceed the lower earnings limit – set at £118 per week (£512 per month, £6,136 per year) for 2019/20. Self-employed earners pay Class 2 and Class 4 contributions, but it is the payment of Class 2 contributions only which provide pension and benefit entitlement. A self-employed earner is liable to pay Class 2 contributions where their earnings from self-employment exceed the small profits threshold, set at £6,365 for 2019/20. Where profits from self-employment are below the small profits threshold, the self-employed earner is not liable to pay Class 2 contributions but is entitled to do so voluntarily. For 2019/20, Class 2 contributions are payable at the rate of £3 per week.
Qualifying year
A year is a qualifying year if contributions have been paid for all 52 weeks of that year. If there are some weeks for which contributions have not been paid, the year is not a qualifying year. However, contributions can be paid voluntarily to make up the shortfall and turn a non-qualifying year into a qualifying year.
How many qualifying years are needed?
An individual needs 35 qualifying years to receive the full single-tier state pension payable to those reaching state pension age on or after 6 April 2016. To receive a reduced single tier state pension, at least 10 qualifying years are needed.
Should voluntary contributions be paid?
Voluntary contributions may be paid to make up a shortfall.
Before paying voluntary contributions, it is necessary to ascertain whether the payment of such contributions would be worthwhile. You can check at www.gov.uk/check-state-pension.
If you already have 35 qualifying years (or will do by the time state pension age is reached), there is no benefit in paying voluntary contributions. However, if you have less than 35 years, it may be worthwhile making voluntary payments to increase your state pension. Likewise, if by state pension age you will have some qualifying years but less than 10, it may be worthwhile paying sufficient voluntary contributions to secure a minimum pension.
Class 3 contributions
Class 3 contributions are voluntary contributions and can be paid to boost the state pension.
For 2019/20, Class 3 contributions cost £15 per week. At these rates, to increase the state pension by 1/35th by paying voluntary Class 3 contributions for a year will cost £780. For 2019/20, the single-tier state pension is £168.60 per week, so at 2019/20 rates, each extra qualifying year (up to 35) is worth £4.82 per week.
Voluntary Class 2
Where a self employed person is entitled but not liable to pay Class 2 contributions, paying Class 2 contributions voluntarily is a cheaper option.