State Pension Deadline Delayed Due to High Call Volume
A looming deadline for people to plug NI gaps, to ensure they get the full state pension, has been eased due to concerns over a rush of last-minute enquiries. Anyone who requests a call back from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on the issue will not be regarded as having missed the 5 April deadline. People can currently make voluntary extra contributions to plug National Insurance gaps back to 2006, but after April's deadline, this will be limited to the previous six years only.
- The relaxation of the deadline highlights the need for more efficient communication channels and support systems in place to help individuals navigate complex pension planning decisions.
- What are the potential long-term implications of the government introducing online tools for top-up payments, and how might this impact the overall experience of accessing state pensions?