UK state pensions: later deadline for NI top-ups that can mean £55,000 extra

The voluntary national insurance deadline was originally going to be 5 April but it has been extended to 31 July. Photograph: 10’000 Hours/Getty Images

Pay £800 now and, if you live a long time, get back £5,500-plus in total. If you can afford to hand over £8,000, it could be £55,000 or more. That, in very simple terms, is the pensions deal being offered to many people by the government, experts say.

The deadline for taking advantage of what has been called a “bargain price” was originally going to be 5 April but the good news is that this week the government extended it to the end of July.