Guide discussion: Voluntary national insurance contributions

SwiftSuzie

There's even a section on Martin's guide that says: "If you've retired abroad you'll need to pay Class 3", without any qualification to explain that you can buy Class 2 for earlier years before you retired. So if the Government is telling people this, and even the MSE guide is telling them the same, it's no wonder that people have bought Class 3 when they could have availed of Class 2. Maybe at least the MSE folks could amend it?? It's in the section Q: What if I live or work abroad?

pinnks

Your quote says "If you've RETIRED abroad you'll need to pay Class 3".  That is correct as one of the conditions for being able to pay Class 2 as a non-resident is that in the relevant year you are working.  If you read that FAQ again you will see that the sentence you quote is qualifying the sentences that precede it, to say that if you retire abroad, rather than working abroad, Class 3 is the only option. 

SwiftSuzie

Hate to disagree, pinnks, after you've been so helpful, and all, but I still believe it's misleading. I have retired abroad, so it looks like that's me, but not before I spent most of my working life abroad. I'd read that particular Q&A when I posted that it looked as though there was a time when I could have bought Class2, but not anymore. Which thankfully was wrong. I do see the interpretation you are placing on the answer, and it's correct, but an additional sentence saying that if you're retired after working abroad, you can still pay Class2 rates for those earlier working years, would be very helpful. Cheers. 

pinnks

I see your point but for each year you want to fill, you need to satisfy the Class 2 v Class 3 criteria.  So, if you were working during a year you want to fill, you would be Class 2 but if you were not working in that year it is Class 3.  And, if you are looking to the future the same applies.  Bottom line, I guess, is a conversation with HMRC via the CF83... 

SwiftSuzie

Yes. I just don't want someone to place the same interpretation on it as I did and do what I was going to do for the want of a few words of clarification. 

calypso_rhapsody

I wrote to PT Operations North East England in February asking for an 18 digit code so that i could make an additional payment to complete my record but no reply as yet.  As i was 65 in Nov 22 I think that maybe it is now too late to make that additional payment and that it should have been paid before 5 April 23?

molerat

calypso_rhapsody said:

I wrote to PT Operations North East England in February asking for an 18 digit code so that i could make an additional payment to complete my record but no reply as yet.  As i was 65 in Nov 22 I think that maybe it is now too late to make that additional payment and that it should have been paid before 5 April 23?

The April 2023 date has been moved to 31 July 2023 and that date was only for certain specific years.

p00hsticks

calypso_rhapsody said:

I wrote to PT Operations North East England in February asking for an 18 digit code so that i could make an additional payment to complete my record but no reply as yet.  As i was 65 in Nov 22 I think that maybe it is now too late to make that additional payment and that it should have been paid before 5 April 23?

That seems to be a bit of a convoluted way of doing things.....

In order for HMRC to provide the 18 digit code to enable you to make a online payment you would have had to have said what year(s) you wished to buy, so it probably would have made more sense to simply enclose a cheque for the payment and get it over and done with in one step....

Simon8081

My current state pension is estimated at £184.55 per week. The forecast says "if you contribute another 4 years before 05/04/39 you will receive £203.85 per week which is the most you can get." I have a shortfall of £30.60 for 2020/21 and a shortfall of £824.20 for 2019/20. My question is: Do I need to pay the above missing years or just have another 4 years in full time employment before 2039 (which I am very likely to do) to get £203.85 per week? 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Simon8081 said:

My current state pension is estimated at £184.55 per week. The forecast says "if you contribute another 4 years before 05/04/39 you will receive £203.85 per week which is the most you can get." I have a shortfall of £30.60 for 2020/21 and a shortfall of £824.20 for 2019/20. My question is: Do I need to pay the above missing years or just have another 4 years in full time employment before 2039 (which I am very likely to do) to get £203.85 per week? 

You don't need to pay it if you are going to add four post 2016 years from working.

Some people might pay the £30.60 simply because it is so small and who knows what the future holds but chances are you would be wasting your money.

I wouldn't consider paying the £824.20.