Backdated state pension?

sparky0138

Does anyone know please, if you pay voluntary NIC's to fill the gaps after you reach state pension age, will the extra you receive be backdated to when you reached state pension age or will the extra money start only when they receive the NIC?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Both.

It will only start after they receive the contributions but it will eventually be backdated.

Brynsam

Might also be helpful:

You can usually pay voluntary contributions for the past six years. The deadline is 5 April each year.  So you have until 5 April 2021 to make up for gaps for the tax year 2014 to 2015.

 You can sometimes pay for gaps from more than six years ago, depending on your age. Pensioners have 6 years after you reach state pension age to increase their state pension if you’re a man born between 6 April 1945 and 5 April 1950 or a woman born between 6 April 1950 and 5 October 1952 If you’re a man born after 5 April 1951 or a woman born after 5 April 1953, you have until 5 April 2023 to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps between April 2006 and April 2016.

Read more: https://www.which.co.uk/money/pensions-and-retirement/state-pension/can-i-top-up-my-state-pension-an0q09p37nsj - Which?

t0rt0ise

This page says no backdating and that's what I was told too.
https://www.lovemoney.com/guides/3206/how-to-top-up-your-state-pension

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Given the article includes this statement I wouldn't put much faith in it.

If you reach State Pension after 6 April 2016 you will be entitled to the new State Pension, which currently pays £159.55 per week.
In order to get the full amount, you need to have a total of 35 years of NICs. But you’ll need at least 10 qualifying years of NICs to get any State Pension at all.

jem16

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

Given the article includes this statement I wouldn't put much faith in it.

If you reach State Pension after 6 April 2016 you will be entitled to the new State Pension, which currently pays £159.55 per week.
In order to get the full amount, you need to have a total of 35 years of NICs. But you’ll need at least 10 qualifying years of NICs to get any State Pension at all.

This Royal London guide says exactly the same thing and I would put faith in it as it’s excellent. I’ve also heard others saying the increase will begin from when the voluntary NICs are received. 

https://www.royallondon.com/siteassets/site-docs/media-centre/good-with-your-money-guides/topping-up-your-state-pension-guide.pdf

molerat

There seems to be no definitive information either way from .gov and I can't find any threads with info from anyone who has "been there, done that".

Dazed_and_C0nfused

The Royal London guide is usually accurate so maybe payments cannot be backdated buy I thought there had been posters who had paid late for whatever reason and got the correct amount (backdated) from when the pension first started.

You wouldn't be happy if the late payment was down to DWP/HMRC taking ages to confirm if voluntary NIC was going to increase your State Pension and then once paid only agreeing to pay the higher pension going forwards.

jem16

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

You wouldn't be happy if the late payment was down to DWP/HMRC taking ages to confirm if voluntary NIC was going to increase your State Pension and then once paid only agreeing to pay the higher pension going forwards.

I can see your point if the delay is due to the DWP/HMRC. However you do have up to 6 years after reaching SPA to make voluntary payments. I can't see them accepting a payment then and backdating for 6 years.