Excerpt: Women aged 53 to 60 will soon be able to pay a further six years worth of national insurance (NI) contributions to boost their state pensions. It raises to 12 the number of extra years of contributions that can be topped up, going back to 1975. The government's decision is included in an amendment to the Pensions Bill currently going through Parliament. The change is aimed at helping some women who left the workforce to raise families or care for other relatives.  MORE >>