Paid 42 years National Insurance. Can I get any back?

Ageing_Stick_Insect

I was speaking to a colleague today regarding the number of qualifying years required for a full state pension. He said it was 30 years and if you paid NI beyond that you could claim the extra payments back as they would give you no benefit.

I started work in 1967 but only reached 19 in May 1970. I retire on 31 May so by my reckoning I reached 30 years of contributions in April 2001. So for the last 12 years I have been paying NI for no benefit - allegedly. I don't qualify for my pension until May 2016.

Could someone please clarify my situation. I have used the Basic State Pension calculator here but it makes no mention of having paid more than I need to. I suppose that's no surprise.

Thanks.

midnight_express

No you can't.

Torry_Quine

No you can't claim it back. It entitled you to benefits beyond just the state pension such as JSA and IB/ESA. Even if you were fortunate in never needing to claim anything that's what you are contributing for.

Just be thankful you've been able to work for that time

CIS

So for the last 12 years I have been paying NI for no benefit

NI contributions aren't only for state pension purposes.

He said it was 30 years and if you paid NI beyond that you could claim the extra payments back as they would give you no benefit

You can only claim back NI if it has been overpaid in error - e.g. the amount taken from your wages was wrongly calculated.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/refunds-complaints/claimback.htm

MissMoneypenny

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Just be thankful you've been able to work for that time

That's one way of looking at it.

The other is that perhaps benefit claimants' should "be thankful"to people like this, for working all those years.

epitome

It might be 35 years now anyway.

schrodie

Thanks now to the tories all those years of paying into the system will in most cases only get you one year of sickness benefit!

Ageing_Stick_Insect

Thanks everyone for your replies. It did sound too good to be true. I do consider myself to be fortunate to have worked all my adult life but I've paid far more into the system than I'll get out old-age pension not withstanding. At least I qualify (by a month) for the higher £140pw.

Dunroamin

Ageing_Stick_Insect wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your replies. It did sound too good to be true. I do consider myself to be fortunate to have worked all my adult life but I've paid far more into the system than I'll get out old-age pension not withstanding. At least I qualify (by a month) for the higher £140pw.

What higher £140?

Torry_Quine

Ageing_Stick_Insect wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your replies. It did sound too good to be true. I do consider myself to be fortunate to have worked all my adult life but I've paid far more into the system than I'll get out old-age pension not withstanding. At least I qualify (by a month) for the higher £140pw.

It's called society.

Ageing_Stick_Insect

Dunroamin wrote: »

What higher £140?

The higher state pension that comes into play in April 2016. Or is it £144p/w?