If you have enough stamps for the contrib. state pension, and you have stopped working and are not seeking employment - do you have to keep signing on right up to pension age?
Well there is no option to keep signing on if you are seeking work. If you were seeking work and not entitled to a payment and a few other conditions relating to when you last got a payment etc then there can be an option to sign for 'credits' which preserve your record for retirement.
The years between your last contribution and when you reach pension age will be included when calculating the annual average of contributions. Something to keep in mind, depending on how many years are in the 'gap'.
I your sure you have enough prsi paid or credited to give you a yearly average of 48 contributions over your working life to get a full pension then I think you have nothing to worry about.