Clare asks:

Could you give me some guidance about how I protect my entitlement to the basic state pension? I have been made redundant but I am retraining at my own expense and hence have not "signed on"! This means I am able to pay National Insurance contributions through work or to have them credited because I'm not on benefits. What can I do to ensure I don't lose out?

The Pensions Advisory Service (TPAS) has recently produced a Voluntary National Insurance Contribution Planner on its website as a guide to working out whether it is necessary or desirable to 'make good' any gaps you may have in your national insurance record to secure a bigger state pension.

It is worth bearing in mind, however, that from 6 April 2010 the number of national insurance qualifying years that women will need to have in order to get the maximum state pension has come down to 30 from 39 (for men it's reduced from 44 to 30). This will mean that fewer people (particularly women) will now not have to contemplate paying voluntary contributions in order to obtain a full basic state pension.

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