National Insurance Information

You pay National Insurance contributions to qualify for certain benefits and the State Pension

You pay mandatory National Insurance if you are 16 or over and are either: 

  • an employee earning above £166 a week 
  • self-employed and making a profit of £6,365 or more a year

You may be able to pay voluntary contributions to avoid gaps in your NI contributions. 

You need a National Insurance number before you can start paying National Insurance contributions. 

If you earn between £118 and £166 a week, your contributions are treated as having been paid to protect your National Insurance record. 

National Insurance Classes 

There are different types of National Insurance (known as ‘classes’). The type you pay depends on your employment status and how much you earn. 

When You Stop Paying 

If you are employed, you stop paying Class 1 National Insurance when you reach the State Pension age

If you are self-employed you stop paying: 

  • Class 2 National Insurance when you reach State Pension age 
  • Class 4 National Insurance from 6 April (start of the tax year) after you reach State Pension age 

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