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Topping up your state pension

Got questions about boosting your state pension by checking your record with the Future Pension Centre and making voluntary National Insurance contributions?

Unexpected Pension forecast change
Hoping for some advice on whether this is normal. I retired in 2014, age 55 years and have lived off my teachers pension. I have not worked since then. I've checked my State pension forecast regularly online since I retired and it has always said my forecast was the current full state pension, I have 39 qualifying years…
Specified Adult Childcare Credits - Period of Care
I've been trying to figure this out but one detail I haven't been able to find is exactly how many weeks do you need to have looked after the child in order to qualify for the full year NI credit? If you've been looking after a child regularly but not every single week, do those missed weeks mean you won't qualify for a…
Gov.uk pension phone line repeatedly cuts out
Spent over two hours on hold to clearly understaffed gov.uk pension line this morning. Three times I eventually got through and as soon as someone spoke to me, the line cut out. My phone is on the table in front of me, untouched, so it is their fault. Are other people experiencing this? I am unable to apply for my (2-years…
Do I need a new reference each time I top up NI?
This discussion was created from comments split from: National Insurance before 2006.
Been told my 24/25 NI contributions won’t count towards my state pension years
I reach 66 on 25 March. I had assumed I would have paid enough NI for this year to count towards my 35 plus years needed. However, while trying to pay for one incomplete year and one full year, I was told this current year won’t count as I reach retirement age before the end….(literally just!). Is this correct???
Self Employed - not sure if need to pay voluntary class 2
Am self employed, my first self assessment I've done in a while. Just about to pay my self assessment tax bill. Noticed I'm not down to pay any Class 2 NI contributions, just £756 Class 4. I've got a few years gaps where I'm missing NI contributions so need this year to count towards pension etc My self assessment says:-…
Which Class contributions do I pay - Class 2 or 3?
I left UK about 6 years ago, living in Sweden now Switzerland. I am from UK and worked there for many years before leaving - paid about 15 years of NI contributions in full so far. I am not employed or self employed abroad - stay at home dad! If I want to pay NI contributions on a voluntary basis, I can't see which Class I…
Any speculations that this government may extend the deadline for past NI contributions again...?
Or is this it? I am waiting before I pay my last £800 to top up my pension forecast as it's a lot of money for me, but if 5 April is the last time, I'll pay now.
Class 2 Payments, does the 18 digit code work?
Back in late October after phoning and getting the voluntary class 2 NI digit numbers needed i paid online. The ref numbers started with 11 followed by the amounts to be paid. 6 weeks later i phoned to check if they had the money and if the details were correct, that was confirmed but i would to wait for my record to be…
Do I need to plug gaps in one go?
I know time is fast running out. I have a few gaps that I intend to fill before the deadline. If I fill half of them now, will I be able to fill the rest in a month's time (still before the deadline) or does it need to be done all in one go?Also, is there a way to select which years that I want to plug? The options that I…
Voluntary NI Contributions
At 60 years old now and currently not working I am confused over what to do so I can claim the full state pension when I reach 67. The gov.uk site says my forecast is £202.24 a week, £879.38 a month, £10,552.59 a year, . GapsCost of filling gaps2023 to 2024£767.802022 to 2023£602.302021 to 2022£46.202015 to 2016£824.202014…
Filling NI contributions gaps to retire early
I am projected to have max state pension provided I'll pay contributions for the next 15 years (no idea how it works, as there is no way I'll have 35 years of contributions by 2039) I've got a couple of gaps 2011/2012 and 2010/2011. I don't intend to work all 15 years from now, and I just wonder would it make sense to pay…
Ebay selling and class 2 contributions
Due to sales in excess of the £1000 allowance online, I have applied for sole trader status with HMRC. I sell approximately £2k to £3k per annum. Whilst doing so, I noticed that I also applied for class 2 NI contributions, which as far as I can see is not compulsory. My question is whether is is worth paying this reduced…
Effect on voluntary NI payments when my birthday just (about a week) after the Tax year starts
Hello All, I wonder if somebody might know the answer, or point me in the right direction to a possible answer, in regard to Voluntary NI contributions. I am not currently working. I am going to pay one more year’s contribution because according to the online NI system I need to pay one more year’s voluntary contribution…
Worth paying my 2006-2007 national insurance shortfall?
Hi, I am hoping to receive some advicse. I have the message below indicating I need to pay £459.65 to make my contributions for the year 2006-2007 complete. I am 38 years old. Is it worth me making this voluntary payment? Many thanks "You have contributions from Paid employment: £111.88 Pay a voluntary contribution…
Can I pay state pension contributions in advance in case of unemployment in future
Hi Question: Can I pay for the next 6 years of pension contributions in advance 2024/5 - 2030/31? I am self-employed and am up to date with pension contributions so far with about 6 more years of contributions to make in the 8 years I have left to do so. The problem is I am not winning work like I used to and I think it is…
Plugging NI gaps for free with NI credits
Step 3 of the Buying National Insurance guide on the MSE website says: if" you have gaps in your record, see if you can plug 'em for FREE with NI credits" One of the options for this is: "- Unemployed and actively looking for work: You needn't have been claiming jobseeker's allowance, but will need to prove you were…
Self Employed options for making NI Contributions
My wife is 53 and a self employed hairdresser. She needs another 8 years contributions before obtaining the full £221.20. There are 4 available years she can fill the gaps from 2013 - 2016 at a cost of £3296.80. Her current net profits are in the region of £22,000 and she is paying voluntary NI contributions however we…
Delay in posting additional contributions
In May after listening to the pod cast of Voluntary Contributions I completed the advised forms and submitted them - after a few weeks I had a ‘quotation’ with phone numbers at HMRC to call to make payments- did that and made a plan with the very helpful folks at HMRC - after making the transfer in June 2024 and then some…
Topping up pension missing years by using Home Responsibility Protection (HRP)
I was told this was possible by transferring my wifes HRP for 16 years of child benefit from the 80s, so completed the form and sent it in. I have a letter saying that 16 years as now been transferred to myself, but can't see any changes to my pension years shortfall of 9 years. I thought this would lead to NI credits…

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Topping up your state pension

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