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National insurance contributions (NIC) - What benefits do my national insurance contributions (NIC) pay for?

National insurance is a tax on your earnings. This guide covers some basic information about NIC.

Last reviewed 13 August 2024

What benefits do my national insurance contributions (NIC) pay for?

For some UK benefits, you need to have paid or been credited national insurance contributions (NIC). These are called . There are other benefits where provided the rules for claiming apply to you, it does not matter whether or not you have paid any NI contributions. 

Benefits which depend on NIC include:

Benefits which do not depend on NIC include:

Benefits Class 1 Class 2 Class 3
Maternity Allowance Yes Yes No
Contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance Yes No No
Contribution-based / New Style Employment and Support Allowance Yes Yes No
Bereavement Benefits Yes Yes Yes
New State Pension Yes Yes Yes

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