Guide discussion: Voluntary national insurance contributions

avoidtheupsidedownbottles

Just to mention you can still register for a callback before April the 5th and they will phone back in the next 8 weeks, so effectively extending the deadline

QrizB

Beige_Bird said:

Oh right. It's a bit of a minefield really. Very frustrating when retired early and have to just wait and see what you get 10 years later when State Pension due.

You don't hve to wait and see, it's clear as day in your forecast.

Beige_Bird said:

Especially as too late to buy back years then.

You can buy some back years even once you've started receiving your pension.

Beige_Bird said:

I've rang various people over the years and most seem to think if it says full amount on gateway 'green screen' that's what you'll get.

That's because, if it says what your forecast says, it's true.

Beige_Bird said:

Confusing also, when they show amount of gap years and costs to buy back!

The Chancellor will happily take your money, it just won't add to your pension.

Beige_Bird said:

I even took from ML show that if opted out and retired early, they presume you're going to keep paying till pension age and don't take this screen for granted. 

There are other versions of te green screen where (if you need to add more years) it clearly staates how many more years you need. You don't get that on yours because you don't need any.

Beige_Bird

OK, thanks for walking me through all those points. Such a relief I won't have a nasty shock in 5 years 🤗

drewjj

Would anyone be able to give some advice? I'm a bit clueless when it comes to all this. 
So I'm 38 and I've got 17 years of credits, some years att varying amounts, I can pay for due to various reasons I don't want to get in to. I'm in a much better situation now and wanting to pay some contributions. I've registered for a callback since I couldn't get through and even done the view details thing and all the years now say I have til May to pay them. 
What I'm wondering is if anyone could give me advice on how many years I should pay right now. 
This is what my pension gateway tells me at the moment. 

You can get your State Pension on 15 February 2055

Your forecast is £214.88 a week, £934.34 a month, £11,212.13 a year

Your forecast

• is not a guarantee and is based on the current law
• is based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2024
• assumes that you’ll contribute another 30 years
• does not include any increase due to inflation

You currently have 4 years on your record and you need at least 10 years to get any State Pension.

(That 4 years will go to 5 years once 24/25 tax year is added. )

Gaps Cost of filling gaps

2022 to 2023 £824.20

2021 to 2022 £800.80

2020 to 2021 £795.60

2019 to 2020 £824.20

2018 to 2019 £824.20

2017 to 2018 £538.90

2016 to 2017 £824.20

2015 to 2016 £824.20

2014 to 2015 £824.20

2013 to 2014 £681.55

2012 to 2013 £824.20

2011 to 2012 £824.20

2010 to 2011 £824.20

2009 to 2010 £380.40

2008 to 2009 £824.20

2007 to 2008 £348.70

2006 to 2007 £776.65

I could afford to pay all 17 years right now, but was thinking more 7/8 of the ones that won't be available anymore. 

Any advice? 

QrizB

drewjj said:

I could afford to pay all 17 years right now, but was thinking more 7/8 of the ones that won't be available anymore. 

Any advice?

You need at was one "old" year to get a full pension, and if you think you might like to work fewer than the full 29 years until you retire, you might want to buy more than one.

Can you pay online? If so, you can tell the website that you hope to stop paying NI before you get to SPA, and the system will automatically offer you combinations of years that will help.

But if you expect to work or get NI credits from eg. Child Benefit until you're 68, buying more than one or two years will be a waste.

So really it's up to you.

molerat

You only "need" to buy one so IMHO you should buy no more than the 6 cheapest from the list, there are only really 3 maybe 4 I would consider, then get the rest going forward.  What is your plan for filling future years ?

1957DfurdPensionist

Goldfinger said:

Who thinks they should extend deadline until such time you can get a Government Gateway ID/account needed to check NI record online without the need for having a passport/driving licence necessary to obtain one now.

Those of us who can login to the Gvernment Gateway have noticed that in effect it seems someone with reprogramming access to the system has already arbitrarily extended the deadline by a rolling month  - check this sub-forum for a number of pictured examples from various forumites.

Another forumite noticed that the ThisIsMoney site published this article: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-14511207/Deadline-state-pension-special-deal.html

Whether it is good only for those of us who do happen to login to the Government Gateway to look at our NI contribution record or whether it is an official policy decision to benefit anyone who is interested seems moot - it's public!

Muttleythefrog

...and now despite saying could pay up to 5 May 2025 yesterday is now saying cannot pay at all as time up yet today it is still supposed to be possible.

We did call up and the agent said the extension of a month was normal and that they only find out from callers!

What is going on... saying cannot pay even for recent years which have nothing to do with this years' deadline. Are others seeing same?

jem16

Muttleythefrog said:

What is going on... saying cannot pay even for recent years which have nothing to do with this years' deadline. Are others seeing same?

Yes. Programmer has got it all wrong. 

Johnny.99

Should we not still be able to make payments to close gaps today? The option is no longer there.