Guide discussion: Voluntary national insurance contributions

Sumselkb

So I tried phoning today. I knew it would be busy but I was on hold for an hour and 15 mins and at the end there was a message saying they're too busy to take my call and I was disconnected.

What will the phone bill be for this call? I cannot afford to phone lots of times only to keep getting disconnected.

Is there any other way of paying this without phoning? Can I do it through the gov uk website online? Or send a letter in the post?

MonkHughes

I am another one who has left this late. I have been trying to get through to the Future Pension Centre but after choosing options am getting cut off. ( I can only ring early afternoons due to work).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
My state pension summary:

Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2022
£110.21 a week

Forecast if you contribute another 15 years before 5 April 2038
£185.15 a week

I have:

* 20 years of full contributions
* 16 years to contribute before 5 April 2038

I have 8 years from 2007 to 2015 where I didn’t make any contributions.

Is it worth paying the 8 x £824.20 and then only have 7 years to reach the full amount of £185.15 a week? I hadn’t intended on retiring before state pension age.

Thanks again for any advice

molerat

Pre 2016 years will add to your pension amount but at full price it doesn't seem to be worth it if you are working and getting contributions that way, you will be paying twice once past the 7 years.  If you have the money to pay for those years lock it away somewhere and use it if necessary when the time comes.

p00hsticks

MonkHughes said:

Is it worth paying the 8 x £824.20 and then only have 7 years to reach the full amount of £185.15 a week? I hadn’t intended on retiring before state pension age.

Thanks again for any advice

I'm with molerat - if you intend on working until State Pension age anyway, you'll reach the maximum without any need for voluntary contributions. If your plans do change, you'll have the option of buying any years you miss going forward, so in your shoes I'd just leave it for now.

MonkHughes

molerat said:

Pre 2016 years will add to your pension amount but at full price it doesn't seem to be worth it if you are working and getting contributions that way, you will be paying twice once past the 7 years.  If you have the money to pay for those years lock it away somewhere and use it if necessary when the time comes.

Ok, thanks for the advice and very much appreciated.

Sumselkb

If I write them a letter saying all the details of what I want to pay and ask them to give me an 18 digit number and account sort code details of where to pay the money to then do you think I would get a reply back before the 5 april deadline? What is the best address to write to?

molerat

Sumselkb said:

If I write them a letter saying all the details of what I want to pay and ask them to give me an 18 digit number and account sort code details of where to pay the money to then do you think I would get a reply back before the 5 april deadline? What is the best address to write to?

Unlikely as reports state they are currently opening mail from September.

pinnks

Not a hope in hxxx.  You'll have to call HMRC NIC Team on 0300 200 3500 (available via GOV UK if you want to check it is correct), wait for about an hour listening to the lovely musak and then speak to the lovely people in HMRC.

molerat

Sumselkb said:

So I tried phoning today. I knew it would be busy but I was on hold for an hour and 15 mins and at the end there was a message saying they're too busy to take my call and I was disconnected.

What will the phone bill be for this call? I cannot afford to phone lots of times only to keep getting disconnected.

Is there any other way of paying this without phoning? Can I do it through the gov uk website online? Or send a letter in the post?

What type of calls package do you have ?  With most packages it will be in the included minutes.  If you are on PAYG it is standard minutes price.

You can send a letter in the post, the details are on the how to pay web page.  If doing that I would keep a copy of the letter and get a proof of postage certificate and keep them safe.

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

Sumselkb

molerat said:

Sumselkb said:

So I tried phoning today. I knew it would be busy but I was on hold for an hour and 15 mins and at the end there was a message saying they're too busy to take my call and I was disconnected.

What will the phone bill be for this call? I cannot afford to phone lots of times only to keep getting disconnected.

Is there any other way of paying this without phoning? Can I do it through the gov uk website online? Or send a letter in the post?

What type of calls package do you have ?  With most packages it will be in the included minutes.  If you are on PAYG it is standard minutes price.

You can send a letter in the post, the details are on the how to pay web page.  If doing that I would keep a copy of the letter and get a proof of postage certificate and keep them safe.

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

I don't know the package, I just use the house landline and my mum pay the bill.

I won't bother sending a letter because I don't think I will hear back in time.

I am off work on Wednesday so I will try early in the morning and hopefully get through.