Number making top ups after new state pension rose 85%

Class 3 NICs allow individuals to fill gaps in their National Insurance record by making up one or more qualifying years by paying voluntary contributions, which gives them the right to access the full state pension during retirement. After the introduction of the new state pension on 6 April 2016, the number of people making contributions increased to 115,000 in 2016/17 from 62,000 in 2015/16, according to Quilter. A further 115,000 made top-ups the year after until the number of people started to drop. Over the nine years of data available, the overall average contribution was £6...