Jedcol

I appreciate that generalisations are probably not possible but I put this query out there just in case there is a simple answer. I understand that the current maximum state pension in £221.20 per week, which is about £958 per month. My wife has just claimed hers and it has been confirmed that this is what she will receive. We were with a close friend at the weekend who has just turned 65 and will be claiming her state pension next year. She showed us her HMRC account forecast was £1,005 per month (roughly), which is more than maximum. My wife had been contracted out for a few years in a company pension scheme and had to pay the shortfall in NI to receive her full pension. But this friend was similarly in a company pension scheme for a few years. We have lived abroad for a few years and not contributed NI. But this friend has similarly lived abroad and not contributed NI. But for longer! So what could be the reason for her increased forecast? We know with certainty that she has not made any additional contributions over and above normal PAYE NI.

My wife and I both have online tax accounts. We found when we opened them three or four years ago that she was one year short of enough years for a full pension, due to being contracted out. My record was showing that I was not short and a full pension was projected for me. We paid my wife's missing year and she has just claimed her full pension. I am a couple of years younger and have just checked my record after it being unavailable during April. I am due to collect my pension in 2027, I have found that it now shows that I am short. It doesn't say how many years but it looks like maybe it's 5 or 6 years. It now says that I was contracted out, but this wasn't on my record before. Why has this changed since April? Our joint circumstances are that we have lived outside the UK since late 2017 and have not paid any NI contributions since 2017.