A crunch deadline to boost your state pension is on 5 April, so there is still time to take advantage of the current special deal - here is how.

The Government has an online tool where you can check if it is worth the money to plug gaps in your records, and if so buy years going back to 2006 on the spot.

But if you are in any doubt whatsoever, log a callback request NOW to discuss your situation with Department for Work and Pensions staff - and take a screenshot of the confirmation message.

You will almost certainly have to wait until after the impending deadline to receive a call back, but as long as you get in the queue by 5 April the Government has promised it will still honour the special offer.

Another trick is to log into your National Insurance record and click on 'view details' on years from 2006/07 to 2016/17 you might want to buy - that will automatically get you another month to pay.

The current offer to boost your state pension allows you to buy missing years as far back as 2006, but once it's over you will only be able to backdate six years.

Many people will benefit from doing this, because filling old gaps in your record can make a significant difference to your retirement income.

But others will NOT get any value from it, so it's vital to work out whether it's worth it for you personally before you waste your money and time.

This is Money's retirement columnist Steve Webb has a short, handy guide which can help you rule it in or out for yourself immediately - Should I buy state pension top-ups?

'For many people it can be excellent value for money, providing a relatively low-cost way of increasing your state pension through retirement,' he says.

But Webb stresses: 'Not everyone should be rushing to top up.'

For starters, you might already have enough qualifying years for the full amount, worth £230.25 a week starting this month. Or, you might be on course to achieve this easlly by your state pension age anyway.