State Pension NIC shortfall payment deadline and Child Benefit Credit transfer time-frame worry

Sir, I may need to make x3 years backdated NIC payments by 25/04/25 under the extended deadline per my online account. I have found out that it is possible for child benefit credit to be transferred to me from my working spouse who received the CB for two of these years (even though several years ago) as I was entitled to claim Job Seekers Allowance but I did not. I am concerned that if I make the transfer claim it will not be processed before 25/04/25. If I make the voluntary NIC contribution can I then apply for a refund or for the payments to be allocated to later years or will I potentially lose out if HMRC cannot process the CB credit transfer in time? I have had no luck connecting with HMRC via the telephone helpline or even via the online chat I tried today. Thank you.

Hi,
If you have contacted the Department for Work and Pensions and confirmed that the tax years that you are looking to pay will enhance your state pension accordingly, you can ask for a refund of the voluntary National Insurance paid and it would be assessed.
You may also be able to move voluntary National Insurance paid to another tax year if a refund is not applicable.
On the assumption that you have not contacted DWP you can either call them or register an interest for paying voluntary NI before the cut of for older tax years on 5 April 2025:
Contact the Future Pension Centre 
Regarding the transfer of child benefit credits, the application waiting time for transferring Home Responsibility Protection or Credits for Parents and Carers can be checked on the HMRC reply checking tool:
Check when you can expect a reply from HMRC 
Please be advised that the transfer of child benefit credits is dependent on the condition for them to be moved from the child benefit recipient’s account.
Thank you.