Would you catch up a year (pensions)

I topped up several years when I got the chance and was also able to defer my pension for a month or two instead of taking it straight away. Both made life more comfortable now, so if you can afford it, I would do it.

Will this be your only pension?
Do you have grandchildren?

I'd top up if the State Pension would be my only form of income and I could easily afford to do so.
If you've grandchildren and looked after them for a working parent you can claim Specified Adult Childcare credits.

I was advised to buy back six years at £800+ each, as doing so would lift my pension by about £50 a week. If memory serves I will have to live to 72 or 73 to break even but will then be in profit.

These things are always a gamble, but remember that pensions go up every year so what might seem like a small increase now will rise over time unless that changes.

Is the £285 for part of a year? If so, if you don’t pay it you will lose the £600 or so you have paid, as only full years count. On balance I would pay unless doing so would cause hardship.

£285 equates to over 2 1/2 years on the lower pension. So if you live beyond 69 years of age, then it would be. However if £285 represents a whole year of NI that suggests you are a low wage earner, so can you afford to pay the £285? My top up is £820 and I’ve been advised not to bother.

As it’s such a relatively small amount I would pay it, you can then forget all about it.