Unable to Contact Future Pension Centre

molerat

alfonso said:

LouisaJaney said:

What bliss to be able to put in a waiting queue! Today, February 2023, I have so far rung them 5 times over three days and, each time , having gone through the "press 1" etc routine, I then get cut off immediately

Ive rang 19 times today and 21 yesterday and all get through the select number options then an engaged tone.

Must be another way of verifying the numbers we have and generating a payment route?

In my case I have 35 years full up to early retirement in 2010, then 11 paid nothing due to retirement which will rise to 15 until SP kicks in, but just need number for which of these I need to pay in order to get the full SP

Post up your full forecast and someone will point you in the right direction, it ain't rocket science as they say

Current amount accrued up to April 2022
Number of pre 2016 years full
Number of post 2016 years full
Financial year you reach state retirement
Any COPE amount shown
Years which show not full and prices

joshiesaunt

I called them today - short wait then got through.  I picked the last option I think (cant remember what this was now).  They're sending me a written forecast.

joshiesaunt

Forgot to say that the number I used was 0800 731 0175.

Holey

Also called Future Pensions 37 times on Friday 10th March and a further 14 times today (13th March).  All calls end up as 'engaged' or go dead which is highly frustrating when you've gone through the 'options' a number of times.
No queuing system available, unable to speak/confirm amounts to be paid and make a simple payment (as I already know the top up amount)
How many people are able to sit on the phone and repeatedly call this department whilst holding down a full time job? 

xylophone

(as I already know the top up amount)

See https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance/by-post

Make your cheque payable to ‘HM Revenue and Customs only’.

Write your Class 3 National Insurance reference number on the back of the cheque. You’ll find this on your payslip.

Include the payslip HMRC sent you. Do not fold your HMRC payslip or cheque, or fasten them together.

If you want a receipt, include a note asking for one.

If you do not have an HMRC payslip

Include a note with:

• your name, address and phone number
• your Class 3 National Insurance contributions reference number (or National Insurance number)
• how much you’re paying
• the period you’re paying for

stukent

Hi, I have tried ringing for the last week or so. Every now and again and always get to the point where the line rings and drops out. I have my forecast. I am not sure I want to share full details in an open forum though. So will ask without giving the full specifics.
I need to contribute another 5 years by 2027. So rather than paying the full sum for 5 years all in one go I am paying one year at a time. I have retired early, and unlikely to work again before I collect my pension.
I would have thought it is best to go as far back as you can and pay for the missing contribution that year. In my case that is 16/17 and is the cheapest top up requirement. However, I was able to get through last year and advised in my case it was better to pay year 19/20. So, guess it is perhaps not quite that clear cut.
They also advised as the last paragraph above (without pay-slip option). I seem to remember HMRC also required an 18 digit reference number as well which was given to me by the helpline. .
Thanks for any advice / clarification that can be offered. Will keep ringing the help line in the meantime. 

p00hsticks

stukent said:

I need to contribute another 5 years by 2027. So rather than paying the full sum for 5 years all in one go I am paying one year at a time. I have retired early, and unlikely to work again before I collect my pension.

You could always set up a direct debit to pay for current years in monthly installments as they arise. 
Pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance: Direct Debit - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
That would cover four years (2023-4, 2024-5, 2025-6 and 2026-7), assuming you don't reach State Retirement age until after April 5th 2007, with each adding £5.29 (at current rates) to your forecast . 

You'd need to go back to get a previous year to make the fifth though - but do the maths first to see if it is worth it, as you cannot exceed the maximum £185.15, so the firth year can add anything from 1p to £5.29 to your forecast. 

molerat

stukent said:

Hi, I have tried ringing for the last week or so. Every now and again and always get to the point where the line rings and drops out. I have my forecast. I am not sure I want to share full details in an open forum though. So will ask without giving the full specifics.
I need to contribute another 5 years by 2027. So rather than paying the full sum for 5 years all in one go I am paying one year at a time. I have retired early, and unlikely to work again before I collect my pension.
I would have thought it is best to go as far back as you can and pay for the missing contribution that year. In my case that is 16/17 and is the cheapest top up requirement. However, I was able to get through last year and advised in my case it was better to pay year 19/20. So, guess it is perhaps not quite that clear cut.
They also advised as the last paragraph above (without pay-slip option). I seem to remember HMRC also required an 18 digit reference number as well which was given to me by the helpline. .
Thanks for any advice / clarification that can be offered. Will keep ringing the help line in the meantime. 

There was no reason that 19-20 was preferable to 16-17 apart from maybe price, they both would add the same to the pension.

Paying back years when you have enough going forward has the disadvantage that if you step out in front of a bus it is all lost..... but they may cost less.

The optimum time to buy a year is just before 2 years after the end of that year whilst they are still at the in year price.

I am not sure I want to share full details in an open forum though

There is nothing secret or identifiable in what we ask for

Current £££.pp amount accrued up to April 2022
Number of pre 2016 NI years full
Number of post 2016 NI years full
Tax year you reach state retirement
Any COPE amount shown
Years which show not full and prices

stukent

Thanks for replies.

From what you have said I have worked out that I am best to contribute for tax year 20/21 as this is the cheapest figure (by around £25. Years before that are all the same amount apart from 2012/13 cheaper by about £90 as some contributions were made that year. However, as I understand it you can only top up from up to six years back.  
I will investigate paying futures 4 years by setting up a DD.

p00hsticks

stukent said:

Thanks for replies.

From what you have said I have worked out that I am best to contribute for tax year 20/21 as this is the cheapest figure (by around £25. Years before that are all the same amount apart from 2012/13 cheaper by about £90 as some contributions were made that year. However, as I understand it you can only top up from up to six years back.  
I will investigate paying futures 4 years by setting up a DD.

At the moment you can top up years back to 2006-7 - a temporary extension following the introduction of the new State Pension in 2016 - but the deadline to do this is July (pushed back from April due to the overwhelming demand) after which it will, as you say, revert back to only going back six years.

Years prior to 2016-17 however may or may not increase your pension forecast depending on your individual circumstances, which is why the advice is to contact the Future Pension Centre to check before paying out any money (or alternatively post up you pension forecast details here)