State pension warning: Just three months left to claim £10,000s in extra money - see if you can claim
Millions of households across Britain have only three months left to check and claim tens of thousands of pounds in state pension
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Millions of households across Britain have only three months left to check and claim tens of thousands of pounds in extra state pension.
Last month, the Government gave Britons extra time to plug gaps in their national insurance contributions in a bid to boost state pension payments.
The extension was due to Government phone bills being jammed with people trying to top up their contributions and not being able to get through.
Financial expert Martin Lewis has now warned people not to wait until the deadline incase the same thing happens again.
The extension was due to Government phone bills being jammed with people trying to top up their contributions
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"A special deadline for people to backfill gaps from 2006 to 2016 was due to end with the last tax year on April 5," he wrote in this week's MoneySavingExpert newsletter.
"But so many struggled to get through to jammed government phone lines that it's been extended till July 31.
"Yet don't leave it till then, as there'll likely be the same problem.
"So… if you're 45 to 70, you should be checking ASAP if you need to do this. It's not quick, but it can be immensely lucrative."
Those who have been unemployed, low income, or self-employed often have gaps in their national insurance record.
To claim the full state pension amount, which is currently £203.85 per week, people need 35 years' worth of contributions.
Households previously had until April 5 to backdate any missing payments in the last 17 years - as far as 2006.
After this date, they would have only been able to backdate payments by up to six years.
Martin Lewis has warned people not to wait until the deadline incase phone line become jammed again
PA
This deadline has now been extended to July 31, 2023, which is just over three months to take advantage of the scheme.
The programme only applies to people who reached, or will reach, the state pension age after April 5, 2016.
Earning back years will involve voluntary contributions at £17.45 per missing week which means it costs £907.40 to buy one year of contributions.
Savings experts advise those hoping to plug gaps to get a pension forecast and speak to the Government's Future Pension Centre.