THE deadline to apply for a state pension boost has been extended for men and women.

Money expert Martin Lewis made the announcement during this week's edition of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live.

He said around 800,000 people are missing out on pension credit which includes those who have a single total income under £220 a week or a couple both of state pension age with a total income of £320 a week.

Broadcast on ITV1 and hosted by Angellica Bell in front of a seated audience, he said the date to buy back any missed National Insurance (NI) years from 2006 until 2016 only changed on June 13 - and suggested that it “could be a coincidence” that it happened before the programme.

This applies to those on the ‘new’ state pension for men born after April 5, 1951 (max age of 72) and women born after April 5, 1953 (max age 70).

Martin explained that people need around 35 qualifying years of NI to get the full state pension.

Deadline to boost your state pension extended until 2025

The new deadline for those wanting to buy their missing NI years has been extended to April 5, 2025.

This means before the newly announced date in 2025, “transitional arrangements” were due to end which let you “plug” any NI gaps back to 2006.

However, after the transition you can only go back a total of six tax years and the prize of buying extra NI years has been frozen, Martin said.

Martin also suggested you can check if you are due the funds via the Gov.UK website or by contacting the Pension Credit Helpline.

He said although he isn’t saying you will definitely get it, people should check their eligibility for pension credit as this is worth £3,500 a year.

He also explained that people on pension credit are entitled to the remaining £600 cost of living payment, council tax help, water bill help, dental help, and a TV license if they are aged over 75.

He added: “Getting pension credit opens a massive door of other entitlements to you, so even if the pension credit itself isn’t worth much, you really want to get it.

"Please, if you are watching this and you’re 22 and you’re saying it’s not me, if you know someone of state pension age on a low income just check with them.”

More information about state pensions can be found on the Money Saving Expert website.