Pension - Off the Radar

PompeyPete

Our son works abroad at a British Embassy.

He doesn't work for the FCO, but is a locally employed member of staff. He got the job when I worked for the FCO and was on a posting to the Embassy.

It's an Embassy in the Middle East, and our son pays zero IT or NI into the UK system. Although he has a UK NI number he has been completely off the radar since finishing his education, and has never paid a penny into the UK system.

When me and the wife finished the posting our son decided to stay at the Embassy. That was 10 years ago.

He is 30 years old this month. He enjoys his job, and has no intention to return to the UK in the immediate future.

Basically, my question is: Is there a way that he can start to pay into the UK NI system, and perhaps do a buy-back? Or is he completely stuffed with regard to future entitlement to a UK pension?

I hope the above is clear enough.

And advice grateful. Cheers PP

atush

Yes, he can register and pay voluntary contributions.

Under proposed legislation, he will need 35 years for a full state pension. So get him going. I am sure someone in the embassy will be able to help (there is a Soc Security dept in the US london embassy for instance for us citizens working in britain).

PompeyPete

Thanks.

That's just the answer I was hoping for!

Very grateful.

PP

Andy_L

According to this HMRC link;
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/volcontr/abroad.htm


since he hasn't paid 3+ years of NI whilst living in the UK he can't make voluntary NI contributions while overseas

atush

Wont he have 3 years for youth contribution?

mrschaucer

Has he lived in the UK for 3 years at any time? If so, he should be ok. (From Andy's link above)
Who can pay voluntary National Insurance contributions while abroad?



If you want to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions while abroad, either of the following conditions must apply:

• you must have lived in the UK for a continuous three-year period at any time before making your payments
• before you went abroad, you paid National Insurance contributions for three years or more

(From andy's link above)

Andy_L

mrschaucer wrote: »

Has he lived in the UK for 3 years at any time? If so, he should be ok. (From Andy's link above)
Who can pay voluntary National Insurance contributions while abroad?



If you want to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions while abroad, either of the following conditions must apply:

• you must have lived in the UK for a continuous three-year period at any time before making your payments
• before you went abroad, you paid National Insurance contributions for three years or more

(From andy's link above)

Good point, I misread that as both not either