Martin Lewis says 'door shuts forever' on April 5 for people aged 40 to 73

 Financial expert Martin Lewis has issued an urgent call for people to check one crucial detail - which could increase their pensions by over £10,000. The money-saving specialist stated that anyone aged between 40 and 73 needs to take action, warning that failing to do so by 5 April will mean the 'door shuts forever'.

Taking to X, he previously stated: "Pls share. If someone hasn't checked this yet and is between the age of 40 and 73. Without exaggeration it could be worth £10,000s, so check. If you miss it now the door shuts forever on 5 April."

In a new update on the Money Saving Expert site said the chance was for men born after 5 April 1951 (currently aged up to 74) and women born after 5 April 1953 (currently up to 72). Those born earlier are on the old State Pension, so this doesn't apply, it added.

Mr Lewis revealed last year on his ITV programme that approximately 200,000 people had the 'wrong' individual claiming child benefit - suggesting they could have lost out on years of National Insurance contributions, potentially resulting in a reduced state pension.

To receive the full new State Pension (£230.25 per week in 2025/26), a person typically needs 35 qualifying National Insurance (NI) years. You must have at least 10 years to receive any state pension. If you have gaps or fewer than 35 years, you can make voluntary contributions to boost the amount. Each year the years people can claim advance another year meaning a 12 month period which people could have 'topped up' vanishes.

During the show, a pensioner recounted his remarkable success story of boosting his pension by £32,000 after following advice from the financial guru. Viewer Gabriel had uncovered a major error with child benefit claims that had impacted his National Insurance credits and, as a result, his pension.

Co-presenter Jeanette Kwakye read out Gabriel's message: "Gabriel's been in touch. After watching your show about pensions, I realised I have about 14 years of shortfall. I asked for my wife's child benefit, national insurance credits to be transferred to my name, and I received 11 years of credit increasing my pension by over 60 pounds a week."

Gabriel remarked: "If I live 10 years after pension age, I'll get an extra £32,000. So thank you so much."

Mr Lewis then suggested the financial benefit could potentially be even greater if Gabriel lives longer, explaining: " Of course, typical life expectancy once you take your pension is double that, so it could be 60 grand".

He also drew attention to a wider problem, observing: "There are, I believe, 200,000 people in the country who had the wrong parent claim child benefit. Because what happens is if you're working, you get national insurance credits that go towards your pension. And if you're looking after a child, you also get national insurance pen credits.

"But if you have one working parent and one non-working parent, and the working parent is the one who claims child benefit, then they're already getting it from working. So they don't need it from childcare. And the other one isn't getting so that transfer will be that he was earning less than the threshold to get national insurance credits. She was earning over it. He should have been claiming he wasn't so they've transferred it. £32,000. 200,000 people in that situation. It's worth looking at that. That is brilliant."

Martine told MSE: "After listening to Martin's podcast, I checked my NI contributions and found I had eight years missing! I've now paid six years and will pay the next two years when possible. This has made a difference of about £49 a week, which is considerable! I'd never have known without the podcast! Thank you."

Claiming Child Benefit enables someone who has stopped working to look after children to accumulate national insurance (NI) credits, which are essential for qualifying for the full state pension. If the incorrect person, namely the higher earner, claims it, the lower earner could forfeit a substantial amount of state pension.

The Money Saving Expert site advises: "If you (or your partner) are not working, or earning less than £123 a week, claiming Child Benefit lets you earn NI credits you wouldn't otherwise have earned. So it's crucial you apply, even if one partner's income means you'll have to pay back some or all of the Child Benefit payment. New Child Benefit claims can currently only be backdated by three months, so apply ASAP."

HMRC has revealed that an estimated 200,000 parents may be missing out on credits because the partner with a higher income is registered for Child Benefit. You can apply for National Insurance credits if you're a parent or carer here.

If a person or their partner are registered for Child Benefit, they can apply for missing credits from their National Insurance record and transfer credits from a spouse or partner.

The Government has set up a new online service that will show some people how much their State Pension could increase by and the NI years needed to achieve this. People are then be able to pay for these missing years securely online without having to speak to anyone.