Can voluntary NI contributions be refunded?

Corallian

After early retirement in 1997 I paid voluntary Class 3 NI contributions for 6 years so that I could receive a full pension at age 65, based on my pension forecast at the time.

Now that fewer qualifying years are required for a full pension, I will reach 65 in September 2010 and get a full pension without having needed to pay any voluntary contributions at all.

I know that NI contributions can't be refunded, but just wondering if there is any chance that these unnecessary voluntary contributions can be reclaimed?

hugheskevi

No chance.

Extract from The Pensions Advisory Service

Refund of voluntary NICs

It is possible, under very limited circumstances, to get a refund of voluntary NICs that you may have paid. Those circumstances are, either:
1. You meet all of the following:

• You reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010;
• You paid voluntary NICs on or after 25 May 2006 but before 26 July 2007 or, if living in Northern Ireland, you paid voluntary NICs on or after 25 May 2006 but before 11 February 2008; and
• You were not aware of the (then proposed) change to 30 qualifying years when you paid. This means that at the time you paid the voluntary NICs HMRC had not sent you information about the (then proposed) change.

2. You meet all of the following:

• You reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010;
• You paid voluntary NICs on or after 26 July 2007 or, if living in Northern Ireland, you paid voluntary NICs on or after 25 May 2006 but before 11 February 2008:
• You already had 30 (or more) qualifying years for your basic State Pension (and therefore entitlement to full basic State Pension) when you paid voluntary NICs; and
• You paid the voluntary NICs only to increase the rate of your basic State Pension

Corallian

Thanks for the information - pretty much as I expected, but thought it was worth an ask.