Glossary · UK
What is State Pension Forecast Gaps?
Missing qualifying years shown on a State Pension forecast that reduce the pension you'll receive.
Full Definition
State Pension forecast gaps are years shown on a person's online State Pension forecast where they did not pay or receive enough National Insurance contributions or credits for that year to count as a full qualifying year. Under the new State Pension, most people need 35 qualifying years for the full amount and at least 10 for any pension at all, so gaps directly reduce the eventual weekly amount. Many gaps can be filled by paying voluntary Class 3 (or Class 2 for the self-employed) National Insurance contributions, though normally only gaps within the last six tax years can be filled, with historic special arrangements having applied to some earlier years.