>> If you had 40 years I doubt you can increase it. That was my erroneous
>> thinking earlier in this thread - that I could buy the contracted-out years. I think
>> the purchase is just to buy "missing" years up to the max eligible (now 35
>> I believe).
That was the impression I got at the time.
As to why you have more than the 'maximum' - crudely I think, there is the new standard pension amount which will be reduced for your contracted out years, but can be increased for any Additional State Pension (SERPS and/or State Second Pension) element earned when you were not contracted out.
The net of that in my case was that I received about £20 a week less than the new state pension, which is currently £175.20 per week.
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