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How gaps in your National Insurance record might occur

There might be a gap in your contributions record because you've been:

• employed but earning less than the lower earnings limit of £97 a week (2010-11 tax year rates)
• unemployed and not claiming benefit
• self-employed and you didn't have to pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions because you applied for and were issued with a 'CA6812 Small Earnings Exception certificate' - follow the link below
• living abroad

Periods covered by the gap letter

Gap letters are normally sent out between September and January. They tell you about:

• gaps in your National Insurance record for the tax year that fell two years earlier
• how many 'qualifying years' you already have up to and including the tax year before the one in which you have a gap

For example, if you receive a letter between September 2012 and January 2013 (tax year 2012-13) it will be telling you about any gaps in the 2010-11 tax year and how many qualifying years you have up to the 2009-10 tax year.

A qualifying year is a tax year where you have paid, or you're treated as having paid or you've been credited with, enough National Insurance contributions to count towards your basic State Pension and certain bereavement benefits.

What do you need to do when you get the letter?

You should check the information in your letter and then either:

• tell HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) if you don't think you have a gap - see the next section on what to do if the information in your letter is wrong
• decide whether you want to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions to make up the gap

Your letter isn't a bill or a demand for payment. So it's your decision whether or not to pay voluntary contributions to make the year count towards your State benefits. But if you decide not to make up the gap, the year won't count towards your State benefits, even if you have paid some contributions for the year.

You can get more information to help you decide if you'd benefit from paying voluntary contributions by following the link below. You'll also find tables to help you work out the effect on your State Pension of paying or not paying voluntary contributions.

• Do you need to top up your National Insurance contributions?

What to do if the information in your letter is wrong

If you think the information in your letter is wrong you should either:

• complete and return form CA93A 'Gap in your National Insurance contributions - additional information', which is enclosed with your letter
• contact HMRC on 0845 915 5996 (lines are open from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday and from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm on Saturdays)
  

If you live abroad

If you live abroad you should either:

• complete the ‘additional information’ section of your letter and send it to HMRC
• contact HMRC on +44 191 203 7010 (lines are open from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday)

More useful links

• Check current National Insurance contributions rates on the HMRC website Opens new window

• National Insurance credits