Martin Lewis issues state pension warning for Britons aged 40-73 as deadline looms: 'Door shuts forever!'

On X, Mr Lewis shared: "Please share. If someone hasn't checked this yet and is between the ages of 40 and 73. Without exaggeration, it could be worth £10,000s, so check. If you miss it now, the door shuts forever on April 5."

The Money Saving Expert website has confirmed this applies to men born after 5 April 1951 and women born after 5 April 1953, as those born earlier receive the old State Pension.

Analysts have previously highlighted that approximately 200,000 parents across the country have had the incorrect person registered for Child Benefit, according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The problem arises when the working parent claims child benefit despite already accumulating National Insurance credits through employment, leaving their non-working partner without the credits they desperately need.

Speaking on The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, Mr Lewis said: "There are, I believe, 200,000 people in the country who had the wrong parent claim Child Benefit."

Securing the full, new state pension amount of £230.25 weekly requires 35 qualifying National Insurance years, while a minimum of 10 years is needed to receive any payment at all.

One viewer asked Mr Lewis: ""After watching your show about pensions, I realised I have about 14 years of shortfall. I asked for my wife's Child Benefit, National Insurance credits to be transferred to my name, and I received 11 years of credit, increasing my pension by over £60 per week.

"If I live 10 years after pension age, I'll get an extra £32,000. So thank you so much."

Mr Lewis noted that typical life expectancy after reaching pension age is double that figure, meaning Gabriel's gain could reach £60,000.

Another success story came from Martine, who discovered eight missing years after listening to Lewis's podcast, ultimately boosting her weekly pension by £49.

Those wishing to claim the full state pension must accumulate 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions, with at least 10 years required to receive any pension whatsoever.

Individuals with gaps in their record or fewer than the required years can make voluntary payments to boost their entitlement, though each year the window for backdated contributions moves forward, eliminating previous opportunities.

The Money Saving Expert website offers crucial guidance for those currently not working or earning below £123 weekly: registering for Child Benefit enables them to accrue NI credits they would otherwise miss entirely.

This applies even when a partner's higher income means repaying some or all of the benefit payment. New claims for Child Benefit can only be backdated three months, making prompt action essential for affected families.