Guide discussion: Voluntary national insurance contributions

DrVenn

Thank you. Yes I only had two possible years I could pay a contribution for 2020/21 or 2021/22. The former was a few £’s cheaper so that is the one I paid for. 

I will call the number you have provided and see what’s happened. Thanks again. 

DrVenn

Well I called the number on 11th July at just after 8am and after a 28 minute wait (I hope the composer is getting paid copyright fees for the “music” being played) spoke to an adviser. I gave her the payment date and she checked and said that it had not been allocated and would I like it allocating and if so to which year? She sounded utterly exhausted/bored/browbeaten that I could not do anything other than say “2020/21 please”. She then told me that it could take anything from 72 hours to 8 weeks to show on my NI record. I thought the whole point of the reference number was that it allocated the payment to a particular year. When I got the number I told the adviser the year I wanted to pay for. Perhaps she needed to record that on my account and failed to do so?

I asked the adviser yesterday to confirm that the arrears would be backdated to the date of payment and she gave a sort of “yes” but one which inspired little confidence. 

When I changed my bank details a couple of months ago I had to phone DWP to do so. I asked them if there was any sign of the voluntary contribution and they said no - but they would “prod” (my word not hers) HMRC. 

And then knowing that wait times would be huge because of the then impending deadline I decided to wait to chase HMRC myself. With that deadline now extended I decided to pursue the matter. 

Amazingly, having checked my NI record this morning it is now showing full for 2020/21 so this should all resolved, hopefully, fairly soon. 

As an ex Civil Servant (total of about 8 years of my career) I sense that this whole system is creaking at the seams and the staff are demoralised. I’m not surprised given the contempt which some politicians and elements of the media show towards them. 

So this is not a rant about the staff - the systems are clearly not fit for purpose - and the staff trying to deal with that will doubtless have to deal with many angry customers every day. 

Thanks again to the amazingly prolific molerat for the guidance and the phone number!

VerybigG

I checked my NI record and pension forecast before getting the state pension in March 2018. I was told the forecast was £121.77 and ‘the most I could get’ was £126.22 per week if I bought more NI contributions. It wasn’t clear how many more years I needed to buy. I had 37 years of contributions mostly/all contracted out. As I’m already getting a state pension who do I contact to find out more info? It says I can’t contact the future pension centre if I’m already getting the state pension 

molerat

https://www.gov.uk/contact-pension-service

After the phone call they will only reply in writing.

Your NI record will show which years are available to buy.  I suspect it will be 2016-17 as that is the only possible year that would add to your pension.  How much are you currently receiving as those figures don't look quite right.

giogiu1974

Am I right that I can now buy the gap years before April 2025 and the cost will remain the same till then? I’ve just checked the gov website and still says “ Pay a voluntary contribution of £824.20 by 31 July 2023. This shortfall may increase after 31 July 2023.”

Hillbeley

I have a BACS reference for my NI top  from 19/20 20/21, but the deadline has been extended from 31 July 2023 to 5th April 2026, however the GOV website indicates the top up amount could be increased after July, should I pay it now or will my BACS reference still work after 31 July 2023?

SwiftSuzie

Hillbeley said:

I have a BACS reference for my NI top  from 19/20 20/21, but the deadline has been extended from 31 July 2023 to 5th April 2026, however the GOV website indicates the top up amount could be increased after July, should I pay it now or will my BACS reference still work after 31 July 2023?

The prices are held too, I believe. Certainly until April 5th 2025.

molerat

SwiftSuzie said:

Hillbeley said:

I have a BACS reference for my NI top  from 19/20 20/21, but the deadline has been extended from 31 July 2023 to 5th April 2026, however the GOV website indicates the top up amount could be increased after July, should I pay it now or will my BACS reference still work after 31 July 2023?

The prices are held too, I believe. Certainly until April 5th 2025.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/deadline-for-voluntary-national-insurance-contributions-extended-to-april-2025

The extension means that taxpayers have a longer period to enable them to afford to fill any gaps if they choose to do so. All relevant voluntary National Insurance contributions payments will be accepted at the rates applicable in 2022 to 2023 until 5 April 2025.

April 5 2023 / July 31 2023 has been moved to 5 April 2025 and everything that applied to the earlier dates applies to the new one.  Your NI record should now be showing April 5 2025.

eastcorkram

The money box pension podcast on R4 last week.
Caller says she has , I think, 42 years of NI contributions. Needs to top up two years to get full new state pension. Is it worth it?

Expert says, yes, as you'd make the money back in about , 3 years. But be careful, if you're still working or getting credits, because they might take you to the 35 years you need to get the full amount.

Is it any wonder people get confused.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

eastcorkram said:

The money box pension podcast on R4 last week.
Caller says she has , I think, 42 years of NI contributions. Needs to top up two years to get full new state pension. Is it worth it?

Expert says, yes, as you'd make the money back in about , 3 years. But be careful, if you're still working or getting credits, because they might take you to the 35 years you need to get the full amount.

Is it any wonder people get confused.

That was on Money Box??