The Department for Work and Pensions could severely deny elderly individuals access to the state pension based on their National Insurance contributions.

At the moment, a minimum of 35 years of qualifying National Insurance contributions are necessary to secure the complete new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) State Pension, while at least 10 qualifying years are essential to obtain any new state pension at all, according to Birmingham Live.

The study found that less than six in 10 (57%) adults of State Pension age or above grasped how many years of NI contributions they require to secure the full new state pension.

Stephen Lowe, group communications director at Just Group, said: “Before people claim the State Pension, we’d urge them to check if they will actually receive the full New State Pension and if not to review their NI record to see where they have gaps in their record.

“For some, it may make sense to pay extra to make the contributions voluntarily and retrospectively for the previous six tax years.

“The extra income over the course of a retirement may offset the initial cost of these contributions.”, reports Yorkshire Live. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here

“For others who may have spent time out of the workforce on maternity leave or providing care for loved ones, for example, they may be eligible to claim NI credits which can help fill in gaps and build extra State Pension income for free.”

Gaps in National Insurance records can be addressed by buying voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions.

But these applications can only be submitted for the previous six tax years.

Before drawing the State Pension, people can secure credits to plug holes in their National Insurance records caused by circumstances including maternity leave, joblessness, sickness or caring duties.

“The State Pension is the bedrock of retirement finances in the UK, and for many people represents the majority of their income,” Lowe stated.

“However, millions of people do not receive the full amount because they have not built up enough qualifying years of National Insurance contributions.”

For individuals who reached State Pension age after April 6, 2016, the new State Pension requires 35 qualifying years to receive the full amount.

The full weekly rate for the new State Pension is £230.25 for the tax year 2025/2026.

You can check how many qualifying years you have and get a forecast of your State Pension by using the online service on the UK government’s website.

This will show your NI record and allow you to see if you have any gaps.