Workers who have a gap in their record between 2006 and 2018 have only a few more weeks to .

HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are reminding customers they have until 5 April to check their National Insurance record and fill any gaps from 6 April 2006 onwards.

Angela MacDonald, HMRC's second permanent secretary and deputy chief executive, said: "Don't delay - it is quick and easy to check your National Insurance record on and it could help your finances in retirement."

HMRC said people wanting to maximise their state pension by plugging gaps in their National Insurance record have contributed to a total of 68,673 years, worth £35 million, since April last year.

It added more than 37,000 online payments have been made through its online service and that 65% of the years topped up by customers are from 2017 onwards.

The Department of Work and Pensions () allows people to buy back credits to increase the amount of they receive by up to six years.

When the 'new' was introduced in 2016, the removed this six-year rule and allowed people to claim back lost NI credits as far back as 2006.

This deadline has been extended three times since the announcement due to demand, but the final deadline is April 5, 2025.

The current full is £221.20 a week. However, to get that full amount, you will need to have 35 qualifying years of NI contributions.

Workers who have taken time off from employment, such as to raise a family or care for older relatives, may have gaps in their NI contribution history.

Making up for one year of missed NI contributions will cost you up to £907.40, which will add £302.64 per year or £5.82 per week) to your pre-tax . However, the rate you pay depends on which year you're topping up.

If you don't top up your you'll get an amount which reflects the number of years you have full NI contributions for.

If you have 30 years of NI contributions, then you'd get 86% of the full £190.23 per week (2024/25).

You can top up your NI in two ways via the Gov.uk website:

• making voluntary Class 2 National Insurance contributions;
• making voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions.

You can't pay to increase your beyond the maximum of £221.20 per week (2024/25).

Certain benefits automatically come with NI credits, so you may find no gaps in your NI contribution record even though you weren't working. If you received these benefits, you may not need to top up your . Examples include:

• if you were on Child Benefit;
• if you were a grandparent looking after children,
• if you were on maternity, paternity or adoption pay;
• if you were on statutory sick pay or
• if you were unemployed and actively looking for work.

If you were 'contracted out' of the before the changes took effect in 2016, then you'll need to check on Gov.uk whether topping up can help.