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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?

Overseas contributions
Both my daughters work offshore and need to catch up some years of NI.Class 3. Given I am in the Uk I can pay more easily [ securely] from my account direct to NI. 1]. Is that allowed. 2]. Best method - I do not have bank account details for HMRC to transfer to , so should I send a chq just quoting their NI numbers.
Some Payable options omit some payable gap years - confused!
Hi I'm a bit confused about the 18 various payment options given for 13 payable gaps, as the even the most expensive option misses out some missing years that are included in other options. Summary:Retirement tax year 2035 (not currently working, living off lodgers/savings) Forecast amount as at State Pension Age - £221.20…
AVC post pension payment vortex
I know it's easy to make AVC to top one's pension ... I did it for 3 years before I hit pension age last year then one goes into a black hole where you can't pay online anymore. I finally got through to someone last July who told me I should have received a form in April when I started at 66 and she promised to organise…
Pay back NI for year living abroad
Good morning I've immigrated to the uk in August 2015. I have NI contributions since that date, including credits from child benefit. I am 53 years old. Can I buy NI from years before 2015 to top up my future pension? Also, I have about 20 years of contributions paid in my country of origin (Portugal). Would these count…
Can you store NI credits for future use?
I've been looking after my grandchild since January 2024 and would like to make a claim for 2024-2025 tax year which I know I can't do until October 2025. My grandchild's mother works and claims child benefit and therefore has two claims on NI credits, one of which could be transferred to me. But she has asked if she can…
NI Credits When Child (young adult) in Full-Time Education
Hi all, new to this so here goes. Although it has probably been covered in past posts, I am trying to check my wife's NI credits for the period our son was in full-time 'A' level education. Checking her NI record it would appear that the credits fall short past his 16th birthday. How do we check or claim, if indeed we can,…
Living abroad and Topping up national insurance contributions - living abroad
Hello, could you please help? I have 13 years national insurance contributions. I live abroad and have had confirmation from HMRC that I will pay class 2. My questions - How do I pay it? Are there bank details somewhere? I have a uk bank account but no idea of payment/bank details of HMRC. Also must I make one payment for…
Selective topping-up for years when working abroad?
I have five years of contributions to make in order to qualify for maximum state pension. It is very unlikely that I will make any further contributions before I reach pension age. I worked abroad for 10 years between 2008 and 2018 so am thinking of making a claim on CF83 - as I moved abroad with my work and was working in…
Topping up NI Contributions and Specified Adult Childcare Credits
Hi, A bit complex, but was looking into my Mum's state pension. She retires in May 2029, currently has 22 yrs NI contributions, 13yrs short of the 35 years to get full state pension. She has been looking after my child, and her other grandson since 2021. I have submitted a form last month to gift her 2022-2023 NI…
Not long left and no idea what to do!
Hello Everyone, I’ve tried to read as much as I can on the subject of topping up but am still none the wiser. Will the help line give advice as to whether it’s worth doing so or not for my particular circumstances? I think there are so many knowledgable people on here who could probably advise, but not keen to post detail…
Multiple part time jobs & National Insurance Contributions, State Pension
Hi there, I'm sure I'm not the only one in this particular pickle, here's my question! I work as a carer and have multiple part time jobs which added together adds up to an equivalent full time job. The problem is each mini job I have comes under the LEL (Lower earnings limit) to qualify for National Insurance…
Should I “buy back the years” since working in the EEA to boost state pension?
Firstly, thank you for everything you do MSE! I have 9 qualifying years from the UK on my National Insurance record. In 2006 I started working in the EEA and understand that the time I have spent making contributions there can be added to the years in my UK National Insurance record, meaning I will qualify for a UK State…
0% tax payer pays no tax on accrued state pension
I cannot find a financial advisor who agrees with the discussion title.... however, from what I've read, a pensioner who has accrued their pension and claims it when they retire from work (and their state only pension is below the personal allowance) is 0% tax therefore their accrued pension lump sum is tax free. I did…
CWF self employment Tax form missing state pension years
My wife has been self employed for 12 years but going back she didn't know she had to register as self employed using a CWF1 form although she had an accountant no one told her. i understand people would say ignorance is no excuse. however she has been paying class2 NI for the last 12 years but the tax office has said its…
Is the future pension forecast calculator on gov.uk reliable?
When I go through the process to find out what DWP forecasts my pension to be when I retire when I am 67 in a few years time it says I will get the maximum and I cannot increase that amount. Is this forecast reliable? I don't want to discover that there was something wrong with it when I would be claiming the pension? The…
Help needed with my state pension forecast / record please
Hi I am clueless on my state pension stuff 😔Can someone help please? I'm 58, and my N.I. contributions began in 1982. My page says I can't improve my forecast anymore, but my N.I record says I can top up a gap from 2009-2010 at a cost of £63.40.(I was newly self employed here and must have messed up with voluntary…
Am I misreading gov.uk advice about not needing to top up my state pension?
Hello My pension forecast says I am on track to receive the max state pension as long as I keep working for another 3 years. Looking at my NI contributions, there are 3 gaps between 2006-2009 that I did not provide enough NI for. Each gap year's contribution should have been £825 apparently. The Gov website says I don't…
Confused about the extra Pensions contributions
Hello, I went online to see if I could contribute to make up missed pension years (was living overseas). I have about 6 half/full years missed and I'd have quite a large amount to pay by July to make up for it. I'll 45 and fully expect to be working at least another 15 years (it says another 22 years) so should I not worry…
Missing Call Back from Pensions & Retrospective Claim NI Credits
I requested a call back a few weeks ago to avoid missing the 5th April deadline for buying back NI contributions, but I'm concerned that if they call back and I miss the call then the deadline will still apply or whether they will try ringing again on another date (doubt it). I wish they would make it clear, as surely not…
Topping up pension
Hi I have missing years on NI contributions from 1975-1978 and also 1992-1993. Is there anything I can do to top up on these contributions please as has affected my pension from 2015? Many thanks Rose

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Topping up your state pension

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