Only an average of 123,000 people per year have made Class 3 National Insurance Contributions (NICs) which allow them to fill historic gaps in their NI records and receive a higher state pension over the last five years.

The figures have been revealed by new analysis of Freedom of Information (FOI) data by wealth manager Quilter.

Thew figures suggest it could be worth Financial Planners checking with clients about their state pension record.

Quilter reckons anyone with gaps in their pension contributions could turn £8,000 into £55,000 by making extra contributions.

People aged between 45 and 70 who have gaps in their NI record are most likely to be impacted by the upcoming rule change.

Under normal rules it is only possible to fill gaps in an NI record up to six years after the year in question, but people have until 5 April 2023 to go back an extra ten years.

This is due a special concession that for a limited period people can fill historic gaps in their NI record all the way back to 2006/07.

The rule changes mean that 2016/17 would normally be the earliest year in which NI records could be filled in 2022/23, but until 5 April 2023, people can fill in gaps all the way back to 2006/07.

Further analysis of another previous FOI submitted show that over the last two years on average only an additional 45,000 people have made Class 3 NICs for each of the last five tax years.

People may have gaps in their National Insurance record due to a variety of reasons such as having been employed on low earnings or unemployed but not claiming benefits.

Jon Greer, head of retirement policy at Quilter said: “For those people that might have a gap in their National Insurance record, making a Class 3 National Insurance Contributions can be a very valuable investment.

“In fact, someone with ten missing years could pay a little over £8,000 to fix the gaps and boost their state pension income by £55,000 over a typical 20-year retirement.”