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Educational modelling only. ERIC explains CMP model output from your entered settings. Not financial advice, a suitability assessment or a personal recommendation.

National Insurance Top-Up Calculator

Use this tool to estimate whether paying voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions could be worthwhile for you. It compares the cumulative value of the extra State Pension received after tax with the value of investing the top-up cost instead and highlights your estimated break-even age.

You can check your National Insurance record for gaps on GOV.UK here. You need 35 years of credits to qualify for the full state pension. You can buy your National Insurance credits on GOV.UK here but you are only able to cover gaps in your record for the last 6 years.

Your Inputs

3 yrs
85
52
2.5%
7.0%

Calculation Results

Total To Pay Now
Total Extra State Pension in Today's Money
Break-Even Point

Cost of Credits

The table below shows full-year Class 3 costs for the last 6 tax years, and green cells are the years included in your chosen Years To Buy.

Tax Year
Cost

Cumulative return over time

This analysis compares the cumulative extra State Pension you could receive after State Pension age (blue) with the projected value of your top-up cost if that money stayed invested (red). Where the blue line moves above the red line is your break-even point. The timeline starts at your selected current age.

Cumulative net pension received Total top-up cost
Estimated contribution cost and possible State Pension increase.
CMP does not decide whether buying voluntary years is worthwhile or eligible.
CMP is an educational modelling tool. Results show mathematical outcomes from the inputs and assumptions selected. They are not financial advice, a suitability assessment or a personal recommendation.