The National Insurance section of this site explains how you make contributions and how they are calculated.  When you or your spouse or civil partner are not making National Insurance contributions, you or they could be eligible for National Insurance Credits, or you could chose to make voluntary contributions to fill the gaps.

Importantly, in order to qualify for the full new state pension, you need to have 35 years worth of National Insurance (NI) contributions or credits, and at least 10 years of contributions or credits to get any pension at all.

There are a number of qualifying criteria for National Insurance credits, many of which has them paid automatically.  You can check the details on the gov.uk eligibility page.

This section will look at 3 areas that are likely to affect military families in more detail:

• Overseas posting.  If you are assigned on an overseas posting, and your spouse or civil partner goes with you, and is not making National Insurance contributions, they can apply for National Insurance credits.  Key points are:
• Class one credits:
  • Your spouse or civil partner is eligible if they went with you on an overseas posting after 6 April 2010 (but note the deadline to apply).
  • Your spouse or civl partner needs to apply before the end of the tax year after the tax year in which the assignment ended (for example, assignment ends on 23 Jan 2022 (so in tax year 2021/22) so you would need to apply by 5 April 2023 (end of the 2022/23).
  • You can apply before you return to the UK.
• Class 3 credits:
• Your spouse or civil partner is eligible if they went with you on an overseas posting on or after 6 April 1975.
• There is no deadline for the application.
• Class one credits offer more benefits than class 3 credits.

• National Insurance gaps. In a period of non-employment or on a low income, you or your spouse or civil partner may have National Insurance gaps:
• If you are unsure, you can check online (link below).
• You can make voluntary contributions to fill the gaps (link below).  You have up to 6 years from the end of the tax year to fill the gaps (for example, you have until 5 April 2023 to make up for gaps for the tax year 2018 to 2019).
• In general, it is only worthwhile filling the gaps if you won't get your full State Pension, but you should check the benefits of doing so based on your circumstances.  You can check your State Pension forecast at the link below.

• Child benefit.  There are some points to consider (linked to National Insurance) if you are registered for child benefit for a child under 12:
  • You automatically get Class 3 Credits.  Note that you do not actually have to be receiving the benefit (because, for example, you opt out due to one of you being on a high income).
  • If the person receiving the credits does not require them (because, for example, they already make National Insurance contributions through their salary), the credits can be transferred to a spouse or partner who does need the credits.  The form to do this is at the link below.