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A year where insufficient NICs have been paid (a 'blank' year) can reduce benefit entitlements. It need not do so, but an outline of the rules might help a contributor to decide whether to pay voluntarily. Where a contributor pays no Class 1 or Class 2 contributions in a tax year, or pays something but the total paid is not enough to make the year qualify for benefit purposes, it is possible to bridge the gap by paying Class 3 or, in some cases, Class 2 NICs voluntarily.

Employees with a deficient record (ie at least a small amount paid but not enough to qualify) should be sent a 'deficiency letter', a statement by HMRC, usually around 18–20 months after the end of the year, once the real time information (RTI) final declarations (formerly P14 returns) have been processed and any credits have been awarded, and the aggregate contribution levels have been checked against the qualifying thresholds. This does not always happen, due to deficiencies in HMRC's computer systems, but in principle, letters should be issued. Deficiencies