State pension forcast: what does ‘full contribution year’ mean?

gilly56

Sorry I don't understand anything about serps/contracting out/COPE, it's all too complicated for me to get my head around! I'll phone them tomorrow to discuss my forecast as I think it's wrong. I recall now when they came to the house to sort out my mother's AA claim, they took my details and NI number and got me to sign forms showing I was her only and full time carer. I think this could have been connected with giving me carers' credits so that's why I think the forecast could be incorrect. I'll post back later on this.

molerat

https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits/eligibility
https://www.gov.uk/carers-credit/how-to-claim

If you do not get carer's allowance but care for someone you need to claim for class 3 credits, the form is in the link.

gilly56

Well! That took some sorting out, after spending ages listening to phone music and automated robot-speak I thought I was being given the runaround by being referred to one department after another but eventually I got a human being to talk to at the DWP. They apologised for their error and agreed I am indeed due full years NI credits for years 2013-14 to 2016-17 and will amend my records and advise the Pensions people in Newcastle. They said to check online again in a couple of days for my revised forecast. Happy days! I'll wait and see how this affects the forecast and then decide if I want to make any more voluntary contributions for current tax year onward. Just goes to show everyone really does need to check their forecast. Many thanks again for all you contributors and this great website. :-))

Silvertabby

Result! By my reckoning, that will take your State pension up to just over £150 per week, so you will have scope to buy 2 further years yourself.

I'd wait until your NI record has been updated with your 'credits' first - just in case!

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

Silvertabby

Do you know the answer to my query post 31?

Silvertabby

Silvertabby

Do you know the answer to my query post 31?

Sorry, I don't - just that a full NI year in DWP-speak is April to April.

Have you had a look at your State pension forecast on line? The NI listings don't show if you were contracted in or out - even the full financial years - but your foundation amount, COPE, and number of years left to work/contribute will indicate if you are likely to get the full single tier pension or a (better) pension under the old rules.

p00hsticks

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv wrote: »

Can i ask what counts as year of contracting out of serps/sp2 therfore making up your COPE amount? If you joined a contracted out company pension scheme from lets say June 1982 to October 1991 then how many years are you contracted out? are you classed as contracted out for tax year 1982-83 and tax year 1991-92? as in those tax years you was not a member of the scheme for a full tax year.

I'm not sure that there are such things as 'contracted in' and 'contracted out' years - as far as I'm aware all years during which you have paid enough NI will count as 'full years' when it comes to calculating State Pension entitlement, regardless of whether you were contracted in or out.

But the calculation of the COPE deduction amount for periods where you were contracted out (and so paying a lower NI percentage) are a mystery to me.

Are you trying to query what your actual COPE amount is ? It will only have potentially come into play in the calculation of your 'starting amount' when the new State Pension was introduced in April 2016.