Are you a woman over 60 who doesn’t get a state pension? Get £1000s back

EdInvestor

lo_bush wrote: »

Do they deliberately make it complicated to deter people from claiming?

Nah, it's definitely complicated by itself

My impression is that they are quite understaffed and/or have a lot of new people who haven't yet been trained up to grasp all the issues.

No doubt they are also being bombarded with calls because the computer has been taken down for state pension forecasts for an entire year(!) so as to be updated for the new rules, just at the time the new rules are announced and people want their queries answered.

The computer thing doesn't affect your Mum however, so I'd just suggest patience and perhaps correspondence if it's all too frustrating.They do seem to get there in the end.

CIS

Nah, it's definitely complicated by itself

My impression is that they are quite understaffed and/or have a lot of new people who haven't yet been trained up to grasp all the issues.

Deffinetly understaffed - the main centre was up here and they've cut the staff down to almost nothing compared to what they used to have - even 3 yrs ago with a lot more staff then they have now they where strugggling.

millie

I rang them this morning and was told that as my missed years were before 1996 I could not pay them back and that there are no gaps in my contributions since 1996. Bearing in mind the mis information being given out to others who are contacting them does anyone know if this is correct.

Wonderwoman_2

Just wanna say how great everyone has been - such a supportive bunch! Thanks you guys!!!

CIS

I rang them this morning and was told that as my missed years were before 1996 I could not pay them back and that there are no gaps in my contributions since 1996. Bearing in mind the mis information being given out to others who are contacting them does anyone know if this is correct.

This is correct

lo_bush

lo_bush wrote: »

Just spent Approx 2 hours on the phone trying to sort this out for Mum.
So I've just phoned the pension service AGAIN who are now saying that they'll get someone to call me back tomorrow, though I shan't hold my breath.
Any advice, anybody, please I am getting increasingly confused and frustrated

Surprise, surprise the scheduled call back did not come so I phoned them again an hour after the scheduled time and eventually got to speak to someone,Chris, who seemed to know what they were talking about and he is apparently sending a form to the 'contributions' dept. He would not confirm that any Pension could be backdated and insisted that the 'contributions' would have to be paid upfront, so what happens if you pay the outstanding amount but they won't backdate the pension, mum will end up out of pocket. I'm really floundering here! I thought it was a straightforward case of claiming what was owed. Does anybody know if what I was quoted today accurate?

EdInvestor

lo_bush wrote: »

He would not confirm that any Pension could be backdated and insisted that the 'contributions' would have to be paid upfront, so what happens if you pay the outstanding amount but they won't backdate the pension, mum will end up out of pocket.

I think you will have to pay the money upfront and will then receive a refund.Wait until they write to you outlining what can be done.

I thought it was a straightforward case of claiming what was owed.

Nothing about pensions is ever straightforward. :rolleyes:

sharnad

lo_bush wrote: »

Surprise, surprise the scheduled call back did not come so I phoned them again an hour after the scheduled time and eventually got to speak to someone,Chris, who seemed to know what they were talking about and he is apparently sending a form to the 'contributions' dept. He would not confirm that any Pension could be backdated and insisted that the 'contributions' would have to be paid upfront, so what happens if you pay the outstanding amount but they won't backdate the pension, mum will end up out of pocket. I'm really floundering here! I thought it was a straightforward case of claiming what was owed. Does anybody know if what I was quoted today accurate?

I have been told that you pay the class 3 then it is paid from when you pay the class 3. If you phone the helpline ask to be put through to one of the sections that deal with it as they have a lot more knowledge than the call centre

CIS

Surprise, surprise the scheduled call back did not come so I phoned them again an hour after the scheduled time and eventually got to speak to someone,Chris, who seemed to know what they were talking about and he is apparently sending a form to the 'contributions' dept. He would not confirm that any Pension could be backdated and insisted that the 'contributions' would have to be paid upfront, so what happens if you pay the outstanding amount but they won't backdate the pension, mum will end up out of pocket. I'm really floundering here! I thought it was a straightforward case of claiming what was owed. Does anybody know if what I was quoted today accurate

Ive got admit that when in I worked in pension forecasting I never came across this - you had to pay up front and then claim the backdated amount after you paid . I would suspect the wont let you pay the extra years out of your backdated pension. My wife used to work in the pensions payment dept and she hasn't come across this either , at least not whilst she worked there.

Saints4eva

My wife paid 'Small Stamp' for a while, and had HRP for some of the time, she has been told she can not pay back any money, to increase her pension. Therefore she is not entitled to FULL state pension. Anyone any ideas, or tips how it might be possible to rectify, and get a full state pension?

Especially bearing in mind she started work at 15 , all NI 'Stamps' until the April FOLLOWING her 16th birthday do not 'count'.
As she was 15 in December and left Easter (As you could in those days) that means that for around a year no contributions were 'counted'.

Fair isn't it?