Employer (Ford Motor Company) Didn't Pay National Insurance - State Pension Diminished

RedditchResident

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

I don't think what was or wasn't paid is relevant.  It was what was or wasn't reported by your employer. 

Payment would be between Ford and HMRC, nothing to do with you.

Do you have your P60 for the tax year in question to show that NIC was deducted?

I don't have the P60.  I am still struggling with how to interpret this, or indeed use it to my advantage.  What difference does it make if Ford failed to report correctly or failed to pay HMRC, or both?  How should the situation be handled to obtain a resolution? 

molerat

The problem is that if the NI records office are not willing to admit they are wrong and Ford are not willing to recompense you there is very little you can do, Have you asked for an ex-gratia payment of, say, £800 to show that Ford are a caring employer before you ask for the help of one of the national newspapers ?  Multi National Car Company Robbing Pensioners Due To Poor Administration would make a good headline

I know it is going away slightly from the original topic but the other big question here is what you intend to do about the other 9 years you need to make up to the full pension amount ?

Why did you not pay class 2 whilst self employed ?  Are you still self employed ? Have you investigated making up those missing years ? Class 2, if you are eligible, will cost you <£160 per year - an absolute steal. If you can fill up with 10 years of class 2 it will save a lot of blood pressure !

RedditchResident

xylophone said:

You are right, there is a COPE figure of £53.44.  It also says "This will not affect your State Pension forecast".

It did affect the calculation of your "starting amount" ...

That link is very comprehensive indeed but if I understand correctly you are still recommending that I make up the shortfall out of my own pocket.  Is that correct?

xylophone

If you were a member of a Contracted Out Salary Related Pension Scheme in 1990-91 (as appears to be the case) and there is a record of this, then there must also be a NICO record showing NI paid at Contracted Out rate.

It seems to me rather unlikely that Ford would not have been contacted by NICO if no NI was paid for their employees for a whole year.

 What may well be required is  for HMRC to put the record straight?

And you may wish to consider voluntary contributions for any other years available to you that will improve your state pension?

RedditchResident

molerat said:

The problem is that if the NI records office are not willing to admit they are wrong and Ford are not willing to recompense you there is very little you can do, Have you asked for an ex-gratia payment of, say, £800 to show that Ford are a caring employer before you ask for the help of one of the national newspapers ?  

I know it is going away slightly from the original topic but the other big question here is what you intend to do about the other 9 years you need to make up to the full pension amount ?

Why did you not pay class 2 whilst self employed ?  Have you investigated making up those missing years ? Class 2, if you are eligible, will cost you <£160 per year - an absolute steal. If you can fill up with 10 years of class 2 it will save a lot of blood pressure !

Have you asked for an ex-gratia payment of, say, £800 to show that Ford are a caring employer before you ask for the help of one of the national newspapers ?   I sent polite requests for six months to no avail.  Already asked the Sunday Times to consider the matter.  Which others would you recommend?  
Why did you not pay class 2 whilst self employed ?  No income while my startup business was nascent.
if you are eligible, will cost you <£160 per year - an absolute steal.  Good one,  I'll follow up on that.  Thanks.

xylophone

if you are eligible, will cost you <£160 per year - an absolute steal.  Good one,  I'll follow up on that.  Thanks.

Have a look at the link in  https://www.dpf.org.uk/explorer/files/TOPPING-UP-YOUR-STATE-PENSION-GUIDE.pdf on page 7.

squirrelpie

"When I spoke to HMRC it seemed pretty straightforward.  They gave me to believe that because Ford made no NICs that year 1990 is not a qualifying year and I lose out pro rata.  Yes, I can buy years out of my own pocket.  Should I have to do that because Ford is delinquent?"

Another way to look at it might be that you were delinquent in not checking, complaining and bringing action within the time limit applicable to such actions. I'm sorry if you're offended by such thoughts, and I agree with you that there is a possibility Ford has cheated a much larger number of people. However in that case, it seems none of the others took action at the requisite time either. It seems to me that your best plan of action might be to contact the media - an 'agony aunt' in the Sunday papers, perhaps, or one of the redress programs on TV. Good luck.

IMHO, look on it as one of life's minor frustrations and move on.

RedditchResident

squirrelpie said:

..., it seems  ...  

..., it seems none of the others took action at the requisite time either. ...  What is your evidence in support of this assertion?
It seems to me that your best plan of action might be to contact the media - an 'agony aunt' in the Sunday papers.  In progress.  Sunday Times done.  Recommendations welcome.
...look on it as one of life's minor frustrations and move on.  I lose out on pension every year of retirement.  Not sure I am minded to take that lying down.  Either way there is a principle at stake here.  They may well win.  They may regret it.  My petition is just, it might succeed.  https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/564683.  If it does I hope to style it 'the Ford Amendment'.  HMRC might just sort them out too.  Still lots to play for here.    

RedditchResident

squirrelpie said:

"

Another way to look at it might be that you were delinquent in not checking, complaining and bringing action within the time limit applicable to such actions. 

I have no idea how people checked their state pension in 1990.  Do you know?

RedditchResident

xylophone said:

if you are eligible, will cost you <£160 per year - an absolute steal.  Good one,  I'll follow up on that.  Thanks.

Have a look at the link in  https://www.dpf.org.uk/explorer/files/TOPPING-UP-YOUR-STATE-PENSION-GUIDE.pdf on page 7.

Appreciated.  Thanks.