Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of individuals eligible to make voluntary contributions for gaps in their National Insurance records for 2006–2018 who would receive more income by not doing so and instead claiming Pension Credit.

No such estimate has been made. Whether an individual should or should not make voluntary National Insurance contributions will depend upon their circumstances. It is entirely a decision for the individual to make but it may not always be beneficial.

Before buying voluntary contributions, people under State Pension age can use the online Check your State Pension forecast service to get a forecast and see whether paying gaps will increase their entitlement.