Mark Routen, head of tax at Hoxton Capital Management, told GB News: “Boosting your UK state pension by plugging gaps in your National Insurance record is a smart financial move that can provide you with a higher retirement income.

“If you are looking to enhance their state pension, understanding the process and options available is crucial.”

ALAMY

To get any state pension at all, a person will usually need at least 10 qualifying years.

For the full new state pension, for instance, a person generally needs at least 35 qualifying years, while a person typically needs 30 qualifying years for the basic state pension.

There are various ways to plug gaps in one’s National Insurance record.

For instance, people can claim National Insurance credits, backdate contributions and/or make voluntary contributions.

Claiming National Insurance credits

People may be able to get National Insurance credits if they aren’t paying National Insurance, such as if they’re claiming benefits because they are ill or unemployed.

These credits can help to fill gaps in a National Insurance record.

Some will be paid automatically but others must be applied for.

For example, parents or guardians who are registered for Child Benefit for a child under 12 can get Class 3 National Insurance credits automatically.

Eligible family members, such as grandparents who haven’t reached state pension age, who have cared for a child under 12 at any time since April 6, 2011 may qualify for National Insurance credits.

These credits, known as Specified Adult Childcare Class 3 credits, need to be applied for, and the child’s parent or guardian who gets Child Benefit will need to agree to transfer the credit.

Voluntary National Insurance contributions don’t always increase the state pension

Backdating National Insurance contributions

It may be possible to backdate National Insurance contributions, Mr Routen said.

He told GB News: “In certain cases, you may be able to backdate contributions to fill gaps from previous years.