Guide discussion: Voluntary national insurance contributions

SwiftSuzie · 26 May 2023 at 9:18AM

Try emailing them. I did after several abortive attempts at phoning. They called me back the same day, but I missed the call. Imagine the heartbreak after spending hours hanging on waiting! But they called again half an hour later and had also emailed the info i needed so all was well. This was the "International Pensions" section though, so not sure if it would work as well generally.

molerat · 26 May 2023 at 9:19AM

Princeofstrikers said:

molerat said:

Princeofstrikers said:

Hi,
I have been trying for days to get through to the Government helpline without success.
My contributions for 2009-2010 show 'part year, we're looking into this etc' and have been for a couple of years.
By my reckoning, I missed 2 weeks in November 2009 and 1 week in February 2010 - can anyone advise how much paying the shortfall would be (roughly of course!) and by how much it might increase my pension, please?
Had a search of the forum and can't find anything but apologies if I've missed it.
In other words, is it worth it?
Thanks

Self employed ?
3 weeks would cost £9.45 at class 2 or £47.55 at class 3.
How much will it increase your pension - £0.00, £5.21 or £5.82 depending on your personal circumstances. The full breakdown of your forecast is needed to give a more sensible / accurate answer.
Current £££.pp amount accrued up to April 2022 (or 2023 as some have been updated)
Number of pre 2016 NI years full
Number of post 2016 NI years full
Tax year you reach state retirement
Any COPE amount shown, in a click link in "You've been in a contracted-out pension scheme" if there is one.

Thanks - forecast shows Your forecast is £173.29 a week, £753.50 a month, £9,042.02 a year
The 3 weeks I missed in 2009-2010, I was between jobs but hadn't signed on.
Your COPE estimate is £12.20 a week
Pre 2016 years in full 21 plus 2009/10 - Year is not full - We are checking this year to see if it counts towards your pension. We’ll update your record when this is finished, you do not need to do anything.
Post 2016 years in full 7 - retiral age in September 2024 so will be 8 full plus April-Sept 2024 - don't know how that works.
Can I ask is the £0.00, £5.21 or £5.82 you mention per week? If so, would seem logical to pay the difference.
Is there another way to find out from HMRC other than phoning them? Option 1, 4, 1 and then either cut off or engaged. The one time I got it ringing, I waited an hour and then had to hang up.

What is the current amount held at April 2022 or 2023 ? Not the top line forecast amount.

The only real way to contact them is on the phone, it is the NI queries line you need - 0300 200 3500..

That amount is per week and will most likely be £5.21 - the answer to my first query will confirm. But the amount may not be the simple 3 weeks, it may be more or less depending on your actual circumstances but will be worth it in any case.

The year in which you reach state retirement doesn't count even though you will be liable to pay NI up until retirement date.

MartyG86 · 26 May 2023 at 9:33AM

Hi everyone - been following this topic and grateful for any advice on one area.

To give some background, I moved from UK to Italy in 2016. Prior to leaving UK I was employed until November 2015, then on employment support before leaving to Italy in January 2016. I have been working with international company in Italy since June 2016 and does not pay Italian social security as has it an arrangement with Italian authorities, and will
receive a pension from my employer etc.

I’m considering whether to pay for missing years to get a full state pension in future if worth it to supplement employer pension.

I have 14 qualifying years already and need a further 21 years for full pension. Retirement is long way off but thinking now whether worth it to pay the missing years

My question is which class should I be paying? Class 2 or Class 3 given that my current employment in Italy pays no social security contributions and I was for period of two months unemployed before leaving the UK

pinnks · 26 May 2023 at 11:21AM

I would suggest you have a read of Social Security abroad: NI38 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), complete the form CF83 and get it to HMRC before 31 July, so that 2016/17 onwards remain in-date at today's prices.

HMRC have said on their customer forum that when considering Class 2 they are looking for a pattern and history of working in the UK before leaving and that being unemployed and looking for work count as "working". Nobody can second-guess how they would view your fact pattern, so send all relevant details, selecting Class 2 on the form, ticking box 25 to show you want to pay historic years and leave the bank details blank, when sit back and wait until the latter part of this year for them to respond with a schedule of years you can fill, what their view is on Class 2 v Class 3 and how much it will all cost.

randm · 27 May 2023 at 1:02PM

Sarahspangles said:

randm said:

sorry, forgot to bookmark the discussion and couldn't find it ! okay so thank you, you are correct, i have made a mistake.
so for my husband it says he can get his pension sept 2036, his forecast is £203.85 a week, this based on his n.i. record up to 5 april 2022 .......£203.85 a week is the most you(he) can get, you (he) cannot improve your forecast any more. you may still need to pay n.i.contributions until sept 2036.

and then mine ( i was wrong - apologies) states that my forecast is £185.15 a week , that i need to continue to contribute n.i. to reach my forecast.
estimate based on n.i. record up to 5 april 2022 £176.42 a week,........ forecast if i contribute another 2 years before 5 april 2038 is £ 185.15.............. £185.15 a week is the most i can get............................ when i reach £185.15 i may still need to pay n.i. contributions until july 2038 if i am working.

Did you access your pension forecasts a few days apart? Your husband’s is at the max rate that state pension was increased to a few weeks ago (to keep pace with inflation) whereas yours is quoted at the old rate.

But assuming you worked last tax year (to 5 April 2023) and are planning on working this year, it looks like you will qualify by next April (coincidentally, so will I)

so neither of us are missing any older n.i.contributions, and as long as i keep contributing mine then i should get the full pension? yep, you are correct, i had sent mine off, then got hubby to log on to his account and he couldn't access that area either so i then sent his off. well spotted.!

Sarahspangles · 27 May 2023 at 1:36PM

randm said:

Sarahspangles said:

randm said:

sorry, forgot to bookmark the discussion and couldn't find it ! okay so thank you, you are correct, i have made a mistake.
so for my husband it says he can get his pension sept 2036, his forecast is £203.85 a week, this based on his n.i. record up to 5 april 2022 .......£203.85 a week is the most you(he) can get, you (he) cannot improve your forecast any more. you may still need to pay n.i.contributions until sept 2036.

and then mine ( i was wrong - apologies) states that my forecast is £185.15 a week , that i need to continue to contribute n.i. to reach my forecast.
estimate based on n.i. record up to 5 april 2022 £176.42 a week,........ forecast if i contribute another 2 years before 5 april 2038 is £ 185.15.............. £185.15 a week is the most i can get............................ when i reach £185.15 i may still need to pay n.i. contributions until july 2038 if i am working.

Did you access your pension forecasts a few days apart? Your husband’s is at the max rate that state pension was increased to a few weeks ago (to keep pace with inflation) whereas yours is quoted at the old rate.

But assuming you worked last tax year (to 5 April 2023) and are planning on working this year, it looks like you will qualify by next April (coincidentally, so will I)

so neither of us are missing any older n.i.contributions, and as long as i keep contributing mine then i should get the full pension? yep, you are correct, i had sent mine off, then got hubby to log on to his account and he couldn't access that area either so i then sent his off. well spotted.!

Well, you may actually have some years you didn’t ‘complete’, but even if you have it doesn’t matter as you don’t need them to qualify for a full pension, subjecting to completing those final couple of years.

chocolatetpot · 31 May 2023 at 6:45PM

Hi all,

My wife and I have been trying for weeks to get through the future pensions centre for advice but the line gets cut every time.

My wife has 4 years on record. Below is the forecast and gaps in contributions.

I have two questions:

1/ Given there is a clear gap, is it just a case of indicating all the years gaps below and saying 'I want to top up', then receiving a reference number and then making the appropriate payment?

2/ How to get the reference number? The MSE guide just says 'contact HMRC' and provides a generic link, but I can't see where to request the reference or who to call. If it is the future pension centre I give up!!! I saw one person in this thread mention sending an email - I can't see any email address to contact anywhere.

Many thanks in advance!

Rob

You can get your State Pension on 30 March 2037

Your forecast is £104.84 a week, £455.87 a month, £5,470.40 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 2022
assumes that you’ll contribute another 14 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

2021 to 2022 - Year is not full, You did not make any contributions this year, You can make up the shortfall

Pay a voluntary contribution of £800.80 by 5 April 2028. This shortfall may increase after 5 April 2024.

2020 to 2021-Year is not full,You did not make any contributions this year, You can make up the shortfall
Pay a voluntary contribution of £795.60 by 5 April 2027. This shortfall may increase after 31 July 2023.

2019 to 2020 -Year is not full,You did not make any contributions this year, Find out more about gaps in your record and how to check them.

Pay a voluntary contribution of £824.20 by 5 April 2026. This shortfall may increase after 31 July 2023.

2018 to 2019 - Year is not full, You did not make any contributions this year, You can make up the shortfall

Pay a voluntary contribution of £824.20 by 5 April 2025. This shortfall may increase after 31 July 2023.

2017 to 2018 - Year is not full, You did not make any contributions this year, You can make up the shortfall

Pay a voluntary contribution of £824.20 by 5 April 2024. This shortfall may increase after 31 July 2023.

2016 to 2017 - Year is not full, You did not make any contributions this year, You can make up the shortfall