Will You Get The Full State Pension? (Not everyone does)

Will you actually get the full State Pension — or are you one of the millions who won't?Most people assume 35 years of National Insurance means they'll get the full £12,548 a year. But the contracting out trap catches thousands who hit that number and still don't get the full amount. Then there are the gaps — years you didn't realise were missing, credits you never claimed, and a deadline that means some years are slipping out of reach for good. One missing year costs about £923 to buy back and adds roughly £342 a year to your pension for life.In this episode, I break down exactly how many qualifying years you need, what counts as a qualifying year including credits for parents, carers, and grandparents that are widely unclaimed, how contracting out quietly reduces your pension even with a full NI record, and how to check your own record and forecast for free on GOV.UK. I also cover whether buying missing years is worth it and the six-year deadline you need to know about.With over 25 years advising individuals and major employers on pensions and retirement, I've seen how NI gaps quietly cost people thousands over a lifetime.Watch this episode in full on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@retirementandmoney