Martin Lewis has issued an urgent call for millions to verify a critical pension detail that could be worth more than £10,000. Anyone aged between 40 and 73 should act immediately, as the money-saving expert warns the ‘door shuts forever’ on April 5.

Taking to X, the consumer champion asked viewers to share the message with those who haven’t yet checked their records. “Without exaggeration it could be worth £10,000s,” he stated, highlighting the life-changing impact of missing National Insurance years.

Fresh guidance from the Money Saving Expert (MSE) website confirms this specific opportunity targets men born after April 5, 1951, and women born after April 5, 1953. Those born before these dates remain on the old State Pension system, meaning these specific top-up rules do not apply to them.

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Lewis previously revealed on his ITV show that roughly 200,000 people have the ‘wrong’ person claiming child benefit. This administrative slip-up means stay-at-home parents or lower earners may have missed out on vital National Insurance credits for years, reports Ben Hurst on the Mirror.

To secure the full new State Pension of £230.25 per week for 2025/26, you generally need 35 qualifying years on your record. If you have gaps, you can often make voluntary contributions to bridge the divide and increase your weekly payout.

Pls share. If someone hasn’t checked this yet and is between the age of 40 and 73. Without exaggeration it could be worth £10,000s, so check. If you miss it now the door shuts forever on 5 April. https://t.co/EByud1Ewal

— Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) March 13, 2025

One viewer, Gabriel, shared how he boosted his projected retirement income by a staggering £32,000 after following the advice. By transferring his wife’s child benefit credits to his name, he gained 11 years of NI credits and saw his pension rise by £60 per week. “If I live 10 years after pension age, I’ll get an extra £32,000. So thank you so much.”

Martin Lewis noted that if Gabriel hits typical life expectancy, that figure could easily double to £60,000. Another saver, Martine, found eight missing years after listening to the expert’s podcast. She has already filled six of those years, resulting in a ‘considerable’ difference of £49 per week in her future payouts.

Claiming Child Benefit allows an individual who has ceased working to care for children to accrue National Insurance (NI) credits, which are crucial for eligibility for the full state pension. If the wrong person, specifically the higher earner, claims it, the lower earner could lose a significant amount of state pension.

The Money Saving Expert site recommends: “If you (or your partner) are not working, or earning less than £123 a week, claiming Child Benefit lets you earn NI credits you wouldn’t otherwise have earned. So it’s crucial you apply, even if one partner’s income means you’ll have to pay back some or all of the Child Benefit payment. New Child Benefit claims can currently only be backdated by three months, so apply ASAP.”

HMRC suggests that thousands of households are missing out because the higher-earning partner is the one registered for Child Benefit. If you or a partner earn less than £123 a week, claiming the benefit ensures you earn credits you wouldn’t otherwise receive.

A new Government online service now allows users to see exactly how much their State Pension could increase by filling gaps. You can often purchase these missing years securely online to safeguard your financial future before the looming April deadline.

For further information on how to claim it back visit MSE here.

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