Martin Lewis shares 'unbeatable' way people over 40 can claim up ...

Martin Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert and a familiar face on ITV, has issued a warning to millions of Brits who could be missing out on thousands of pounds in state pension boosts. If you were born between 1951 and 1984, Lewis says that you might just be eligible.

Lewis explained that there’s a “potentially unbeatable opportunity” for anyone aged between 40 and 73 to buy back missing National Insurance (NI) years from 2006 to 2016. The deadline to take advantage of this scheme is 5 April 2025, and it could mean a big boost to your state pension.

By buying back these missing years, some pensioners could be set to make an incredible £50,000 in extra pension payments over time. Martin highlighted the importance of this strategy, saying: "There is a potentially unbeatable opportunity everyone aged 40 to 73(ish) needs to consider."

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For those with gaps in their NI contributions, Martin says this could be a very profitable move, with some people standing to gain an extra £5,400 on their state pension by filling in just a few years.

You have until 5 April 2025 to buy back any missing NI years from 2006 to 2016. As Martin said, this opportunity is one that "everyone aged 40 to 73(ish) needs to consider" to ensure they maximise their state pension benefits.

Even if you’re under 40, Lewis suggests that this is still something to consider. He’s encouraging people of all ages to check their National Insurance records and consider filling in any gaps before the deadline. This could help secure a higher pension for the future, even if you have a long way to go before retirement.

Mr Lewis said: "Most collect NI years through working and paying NI, but you can also get them if you're claiming benefits or caring for others. In general, you need around 35 full NI years to get the maximum state pension, though some will need a lot more depending on your age and NI record up to now.

"Normally you can buy back up to six years, but when the 'new' state pension was introduced, transitional arrangements were put in place to let you plug gaps all the way back to 2006. This was due to end on 5 April 2023, and then 31 July 2023, but because so many people were trying, the necessary government phone lines got clogged up. So the date has been extended to April 5 2025."