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12 years of gaps but still Government Gateway say I'm on for full amount
Hi, I have quite a complicated situation with my state pension. I'm considering topping up the gaps but apparently i *can't* improve my situation. I'm 41 currently, and was unemployed and living off savings for 12 years, not claiming benefits in this time from 2009 to 2020. Years 2009 to 2020 will each cost me the full…
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Before I paid 7xVC's 2016/thru23, I had 36 full yrs. 2011/thru2016 are still gaps. Why can't I fill?
My nSP at current rates has been quoted to me as £216.62pw, so I am now around £4.50 short of maximum nSP. I do not understand why I have multiple times without explanation been told by DWP that I cannot improve further by paying for example just one more year. Can anyone decipher for me, given the data in the title, why…
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Am I understanding this?
I took early retirement in 2013 aged 58 and lived on my company pension until 2021 when I was 66. I now receive state pension of £172.63/week (£8,876.76/year). Is it correct that making up years pre-2016 gives a lower annual benefit than post-2016? I can afford to pay all years (cost £5,455.50), or I debated topping up 5…
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On-line payment for additional NI contributions
Hi, I know we've left it late but, in theory, there is still time to make additional NI contributions :) This is for my wife who is 62 and has a shortfall of 5yrs to get the full state pension. I've looked into her NI record and she has a number of 'Year is not Full' statements between the qualifying years (2006-2017).…
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Topping Up NI
I have checked my NI contributions on the Government Gateway. I have numerous years that say "Year is not full". When I click on View Details I get the following message consistently "We are checking this year to see if it counts towards your pension. We’ll update your record when this is finished, you do not need to do…
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Obtaining the infamous 18-digit payment reference from HMRC??
Hi All I am trying to get hold of the HMRC to obtain the obligatory 18-digit payment reference to enable me to pay voluntary NI contributions before the due date in a few weeks. I cannot get through by phone - it keeps just referring people to use their "digital assistant" on the Gov. website. I had already tried that, but…
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Confused about buying Pre 2016 and Post 2016 years
I'm a little confused as when reading on here I keep seeing that purchasing pre 2016 years gets slightly less pension than post 2016. I'm a few years short of full pension and every option I've been offered (combinations of pre and post 2016 years) works out at £6.32 extra per week. Am I missing something? Please can…
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LIVED IN GERMANY FOR 30 YEARS
I went to live in Germany for 30 years, returning to the UK in 2011. I lived and worked in Germany, marrying a German and having 4 children, that are all now adults with heir own families. I contacted HMRC in 2023 regarding making up any shortfall in NICs for when I reach state retirement in February next year (2026). They…
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Pension forecast Gov website
I am not working and rely on private income from pension and savings. My pension forecast shows I will qualify for £221 - the most you can get, when i reach retirement age in 5 years (even though it shows that in 2018/2019 I didn’t pay full contribution that year). My question is, I noticed that it also says that as I was…
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Entitlement
My husband is from Spain, he came to the UK in 2000 and has worked ever since. When he retires, he will have paid 33 years worth of national insurance contributions. As you need 35 qualifying years for a full state pension, will he be able to buy back the missing two years?
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Year Not Full National Insurance Gap
Hi, I’m really confused. I have a gap in my NI for 2023/2024 and can pay a voluntary amount (which I can’t really afford and only decreases my pension by a couple of pounds). What I don’t understand is that I was paid over the £6396.00 PA. I am on low income, but more than the £123 a week lower limit. I don’t claim any…
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The Years I Want to Pay are not in HMRC’s “My Options”
I was doing really well. Got my pension forecast, identified what I should do, went to HMRC to do it but instead of just listing all my available gap-years and the option to pay for them, I have 14 options made up of (mostly more expensive) combinations that I don’t want. Without boring you with the minutiae, I need 3…
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Which NI years to top up?
Hi, new here so apologies if this has been answered already. I’ve checked my missing NI gaps and have 9 years missing in total. However only 3 of these are full years i.e. £824.20. Some years are only weeks ranging from 7weeks to 24weeks. My pension projection is £158 per week based on these missing years. I am 54 and…
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Do I Have a Full state Pension?
Hi, I am 62y old. The Gov Website says I am forecast for a Full Pension to start in 2030. I've checked my NI on Gov site and when I count them it come up with 35 Full years. What I am not sure of is, Do I already have enough Full contributions for a full pension. It would be good if the Gov said that I already have enough…
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After 47 years of Full Payment I'm still over 20% down - no help anywhere time to give up!
I reached pension age in August 2016 and my NI record shows 47 of the previous 49 years as Fully Paid. The 2 exceptions are:- 1992-93 shows as 39 weeks paid (I changed jobs in that year) with the comment that it's too late to do anything. 2013-14 (I took early retirement that year) states the DWP is checking, will contact…
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Called HMRC given 18 digit number 4th feb where do i go to pay?
So on 4th feb i called HMRC and got my 18 digit number.I have spent around 4 hours today on the website and app trying to find an actual payment portal.I eventually found a page on the app and entered the number only to be told it was an incorrect format and should start with 60.My number has a 9 at the start and 60 at the…
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Pension questions
Hi everyone, Firstly, thank you to all at MSE, your work is invaluable. I watched the ITV episode on 4 March 2025 and then checked mine and my wife's State Pension forecasts. We moved to the UK in 1999 and have worked fulltime since then, so both of our forecasts show the full £221.20 prediction, but we're a little away…
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A bit confused about my national insurance.
I thought I would put this out there, as I'm a tad confused about details on my govt gateway account re state pension and national insurance. I retired in Dec 23. When I go to my account on the govt. gateway, my State pension (due in 2032) is indicating I will receive the full amount possible, ie. £221.20 per week. All…
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can’t you top up online?
My Wife’s found a part year (2015) that she can buy for £95, which will give her full pension after another 2 years working for me and getting credits. Then I can retire, yay! We’ve both looked on the Gov. uk / tax account and can’t see a way of paying. Seems really stupid if it’s correct, there must be thousands of people…
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Newbie Question around this week's Weekly MSE Email
Good Afternoon All, I'm a newbie here, although I’ve been a long-time lurker for
several years. I’ve finally decided to register and post a question prompted by
this week’s MSE weekly email. I’ll be turning 55 in August. I’m single with no dependents,
and my mortgage is fully paid off. I currently work part-time after…
