New State Pension

molerat

As you reach SRA after 6 April 2016-17 should be added. And, as posted above, it should be free credits, no need for paid VCs.

p00hsticks

colinH wrote: »

Thank you again for the info, I have already put in to claim my state pension do you think it is now too late for any increase to my pension

I'm not sure, but logic would suggest that in your circumstances (reaching SPA just after the new tax year), either a) the initial calculation will be based on your records up to April 2016 and you'll then get an backdated adjustment & increase once the 2017 records are available later in the year , or b) as you are entitled you would qualify for a credit in 2016-17 they can include that straight away.

greenglide

They make an "initial award" based on the data available at the time which, obviously, will not include the 2016/2017 contributions data and will commence payment based on that.

They inform HMRC that they need the contributions when available (Final Relevant Year ("FRY") data). When these are received from HMRC they amend the award to take account of the additional weekly rate and pay any arrears due.

33Lurcher

Just for info I reached spa in last month and got the £122.83 I was forecast on line last year , when I got the online forecast I had 41 yrs contributions but was added an additional 3 yrs (its an automatic process to do with making it comparable with womens pensionable age or something)
So now I have 44 yrs shown on my NI record .
The additional 3 yrs did not increase my sp .

p00hsticks

33Lurcher wrote: »

The additional 3 yrs did not increase my sp .

No - because those years were all pre-April 2016 and you already had more than enough required under the old pension rules. Unfortunately (?) you've reached SPA too early to benefit from the opportunity to add additional years under the new rules and hence increase your pension amount.

However, the OP is not retiring until after the end of this tax year, so one of the years creditted will be 2016-17 (under the new rules) and will produce an increase of £4.45 a week.

YorkieMan

molerat wrote: »

If you have more than 35 pre 2016 years then you cannot add to your 2016 starting amount. Purchasing post 2016 years will add to your pension. TPS are correct in your case and the MSE article is correct providing you have less than 35 pre 2016 years, even then it may not add value if you have 30 years and were contracted out.

Your 2016 starting amount is the higher of the old 30 years + additional pension or the new 35 years - contracted out deduction.

The '35' qualifying years is both misleading and disingenuous. Yes I have more than 35 'Qualifying Years' but as some of these were contracted out they do not 'Qualify'. In my book that means they are NOT qualifying years. Does the Pension Service invent these terms to purposely baffle and confuse?
I'm still not sure why they say I can pay the two missing years contributions "if I want to" without giving me anything in return. They seem at a lost as to why I should be questioning this!