Peter Woodbridge

I, and I think of other, may have a similar problem, but I am confused by the information given when I checked my National Insurance record. I am intending to retire prior to reaching the age at which a state pension is paid, but am able to draw upon my various final salary and DC personal pensions. What confuses me is the various bits of information that a) I have 45 years of full contributions, (which I believe is over the minimum needed) b) have 4 more years still to contribute (I think this might only apply IF I carry on working up to the state pension age, but the wording implies that this is a shortfall), c) 2 years when I did not contribute enough (these were when I was at university- 3 year course, but I guess working from Sept to March was enough for that tax year (why is this relevant since I have paid more than the minimum number of years) and that it is now too late to pay for those years as this has to be done within 6 years (but how would I have known that, back then in pre internet days?) d) I have entitlement to the full state pension Seems to be a mixed message.