National Insurance Contributions

Warren1122

I checked my NI contributions on the Government Gateway about 8 years ago and it showed no gaps in my NI contributions.

However, when I checked recently it is now showing I have 9 years of missing contributions dating back to 1994/95 - 2002/2003.

HMRC say that they have no record of me paying NI contributions during this time and won't do anything as I haven't kept my P60s. They have avoided commenting on the fact that my contributions were showing but have now disappeared.

I am waiting to hear from the Company that I worked for, but it is extremely doubtful that their records go back to the 90’s! 

Can anyone offer any advice?

xylophone

You were working for the same company throughout that period?
Were you a member of their pension scheme?
Have you obtained a state pension forecast?

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Did you really check that 8 years ago?

I don't think the facility to check was available until 5 years ago?

https://www.yourpension.gov.uk/million-milestone/

Irrespective of that though will this have any material impact on your actual State Pension entitlement?  As xylophone says you really need to check your forecast and understand the overall impact.

TVAS

Why don't people keep their P60s or pay slips? Arggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

If you get no joy from your former employer a transfer were in a pension scheme as that will prove that you worked for them for that period.  

If that fails write to the National Insurance Contributions agency they may be able to give you a print out of who you worked for so it will state the name of the employer and NIC conts you paid.

Your former employer deals with a tax office and there will be a reference number. Obtains these details and write to HMRC with your NI number to see if they have duplicate P60s. 

nigelbb

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

Did you really check that 8 years ago?

I don't think the facility to check was available until 5 years ago?

https://www.yourpension.gov.uk/million-milestone/

Irrespective of that though will this have any material impact on your actual State Pension entitlement?  As xylophone says you really need to check your forecast and understand the overall impact.

That link is referring to state pension forecast, The OP was referring to checking on their National Insurance contributions which I am pretty sure was available more than 5 years ago. I certainly registered for a Government Gateway account in 2013.

Warren1122

Thanks everyone. I was working at the same company from 1988 - 2001 and I have proved that to the HMRC but they won't budge without P60's. Yes, I know I should have kept my P60's.  I do have a private pension.  I checked my state pension forecast and it's ok, I can live with it.  It's not so much about the money, it just makes me angry that they can wipe off 9 years of NI contributions which were definitely paid and showing on their systems.

xylophone

 I checked my state pension forecast and it's ok, I can live with it.  

What exactly does it say?

1988 - 2001 and I have proved that to the HMRC 

Were you by any chance a member of  a company contracted out pension scheme during that time?

Branchman

According to the Government website I have 49 years FULL NI contributions, whoever, my pension prediction says I will only get a weekly pension payment of £158.59 instead of the full flat rate of £175.20.  Even though I retired last May 2020 at aged 65 because my employment T&Cs wouldn’t let me work past 65 (MOD Fire Service - Civil Servant) and I don’t get my state pension until this May when I am 66; surely this prediction is wrong as I have over 35 years National Insurance contributions.  Your thoughts and comments please.

jamesd

35 years applies to those who started their first job or benefit claim in or after 2016, not you.

You were in a job with a defined benefit pension so were contracted out of the earnings-related part of the state pension for a long time. An old rules calculation  is normally best for this and 30 or more years up to but  not including 2016 gets you a full basic state pension. Years from 2016 onwards add 1/35th of the single tier pension until you reach its maximum.

SomeMadeUpName

Warren1122 said:

I am waiting to hear from the Company that I worked for, but it is extremely doubtful that their records go back to the 90’s! 

Can anyone offer any advice?

Businesses should be keeping their payroll records for 40yrs. I have been employing people since 1990 and could give any of them a copy P60 for any of those years. For those employees who fill in time sheets I keep those too, who knows when a justified (or not so justified) accident claim or occupational illness claim might pop up. 

SomeMadeUpName

Hmm actually a quick Google says you don't need to keep payroll for anything like that long. The 40yrs is mainly about risk exposure records. So seeing that at times since 1990 the timesheets are for site based construction work, then that still stands. For the P60's, well you'll just have to keep your fingers crossed the firm in question has someone as 'careful' as me looking after the books.