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State pension forecast confusion

So I rang the pensions office in Newcastle to get a forecasts to see how many years contributions I have (needing 30 years of contributions to get a full pension). Essnetially I wanted to work out whether I needed to think about voluntary contributions.

Anyway, I finally left the UK for tax reasons in 2001 which means that I had in total 15 years of paying UK NIC (I started work in 1986). However, the forecast says I have 19 years contributions. How can that be? I had some casual jobs as a student - have they increased my years of qualification?
Money won't buy you happiness....but I have never been in a situation where more money made things worse!

Comments

  • chris_m
    chris_m Posts: 8,250 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I believe you get credited with years in full-time further education - whether or not you did part-time work at the same time is not counted.
  • Marine_life
    Marine_life Posts: 1,059 Forumite
    Hung up my suit!
    chris_m wrote: »
    I believe you get credited with years in full-time further education - whether or not you did part-time work at the same time is not counted.

    oh I see - bonus then!

    I now have my full 30 years in that case as I also have 10 years contributions in Germany.

    Looking forward to a life of luxury on the state pension!
    Money won't buy you happiness....but I have never been in a situation where more money made things worse!
  • xylophone
    xylophone Posts: 45,945 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    "Looking forward to a life of luxury on the state pension!"

    Dream on?:rotfl:
  • amiaspden
    amiaspden Posts: 134 Forumite
    You get credits automatically for the tax years during which you had your sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth birthdays if these fell on or after 6 April 1975 and you were in full time education, unpaid apprenticeship or training.

    Nothing for time at university though.
  • chris_m
    chris_m Posts: 8,250 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    amiaspden wrote: »
    Nothing for time at university though.

    Thought that was the case, hence why I only said further rather than higher education. Cheers for the confirmation, though.
  • bigfreddiel
    bigfreddiel Posts: 4,263 Forumite
    xylophone wrote: »
    "Looking forward to a life of luxury on the state pension!"

    Dream on?:rotfl:
    on top of my 'gold plated final salary civil service pension' it will!:j
  • Marine_life
    Marine_life Posts: 1,059 Forumite
    Hung up my suit!
    amiaspden wrote: »
    You get credits automatically for the tax years during which you had your sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth birthdays if these fell on or after 6 April 1975 and you were in full time education, unpaid apprenticeship or training.

    Nothing for time at university though.

    That would make sense then - thanks for the replies
    Money won't buy you happiness....but I have never been in a situation where more money made things worse!
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