National insurance contributions 26 September 2022 at 8:41PM in Benefits & tax credits 11 replies 460 views

adeo

I'm 60 next March, unemployed but a full time carer for a parent claiming carer's allowance. I was checking my state pension forecast, so I logged in to my ni history via UK government gateway website and found out that I have made enough ni contributions to qualify for full state pension in another 8 years or so at the current government legislation. But I have quite a few ni contributions shortfalls from previous years especially in last 5 year's as a full time carer but I didn't claim carer's allowance until last few years. I have options to make voluntary contributions until April 2023, but total amount is £3,645!!! 
I could pay it but would really struggle financially especially now with cost of living crisis!  if the state pension forecast says I qualify for full pension is there any justified reason for me to pay it? Any helpful advice would be much appreciated, especially if anyone has similar situation!

Dazed_and_C0nfused

What exactly does your forecast show?

What is important is the amount you have actually accrued to date, not the likely headline figure of £185.15/week.

Bigwheels1111

adeo said:

I'm 60 next March, unemployed but a full time carer for a parent claiming carer's allowance. I was checking my state pension forecast, so I logged in to my ni history via UK government gateway website and found out that I have made enough ni contributions to qualify for full state pension in another 8 years or so at the current government legislation. But I have quite a few ni contributions shortfalls from previous years especially in last 5 year's as a full time carer but I didn't claim carer's allowance until last few years. I have options to make voluntary contributions until April 2023, but total amount is £3,645!!! 
I could pay it but would really struggle financially especially now with cost of living crisis!  if the state pension forecast says I qualify for full pension is there any justified reason for me to pay it? Any helpful advice would be much appreciated, especially if anyone has similar situation!

We’re you self employed during that time 😎, because if you were and made less than £500 a year you did not
have to tell HMRC, plus you could pay class 2,  £3.15 a week or £163.80 a year.
My friend wife cut hair a few times a month, so did not need to register as self employed.
Called and asked if she could pay some ni, £819 later and 5 year of ni credit.

adeo

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

What exactly does your forecast show?

What is important is the amount you have actually accrued to date, not the likely headline figure of £185.15/week.

£185.15/week

adeo

Bigwheels1111 said:

adeo said:

I'm 60 next March, unemployed but a full time carer for a parent claiming carer's allowance. I was checking my state pension forecast, so I logged in to my ni history via UK government gateway website and found out that I have made enough ni contributions to qualify for full state pension in another 8 years or so at the current government legislation. But I have quite a few ni contributions shortfalls from previous years especially in last 5 year's as a full time carer but I didn't claim carer's allowance until last few years. I have options to make voluntary contributions until April 2023, but total amount is £3,645!!! 
I could pay it but would really struggle financially especially now with cost of living crisis!  if the state pension forecast says I qualify for full pension is there any justified reason for me to pay it? Any helpful advice would be much appreciated, especially if anyone has similar situation!

We’re you self employed during that time 😎, because if you were and made less than £500 a year you did not
have to tell HMRC, plus you could pay class 2,  £3.15 a week or £163.80 a year.
My friend wife cut hair a few times a month, so did not need to register as self employed.
Called and asked if she could pay some ni, £819 later and 5 year of ni credit.

No , last 5 years unemployed and carer for parent.

Voyager2002

You really need to telephone them: the rules for calculating how much pension you get are complicated and so their advice is irreplacable.

whizzywoo

Probably better posting on the Pensions board.  There are a lot of knowledgeable people on there about the State Pension.  They will want to know all the info from your State Pension Forecast.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/pensions-annuities-retirement-planning

Bigwheels1111

adeo said:

Bigwheels1111 said:

adeo said:

I'm 60 next March, unemployed but a full time carer for a parent claiming carer's allowance. I was checking my state pension forecast, so I logged in to my ni history via UK government gateway website and found out that I have made enough ni contributions to qualify for full state pension in another 8 years or so at the current government legislation. But I have quite a few ni contributions shortfalls from previous years especially in last 5 year's as a full time carer but I didn't claim carer's allowance until last few years. I have options to make voluntary contributions until April 2023, but total amount is £3,645!!! 
I could pay it but would really struggle financially especially now with cost of living crisis!  if the state pension forecast says I qualify for full pension is there any justified reason for me to pay it? Any helpful advice would be much appreciated, especially if anyone has similar situation!

We’re you self employed during that time 😎, because if you were and made less than £500 a year you did not
have to tell HMRC, plus you could pay class 2,  £3.15 a week or £163.80 a year.
My friend wife cut hair a few times a month, so did not need to register as self employed.
Called and asked if she could pay some ni, £819 later and 5 year of ni credit.

No , last 5 years unemployed and carer for parent.

Me too for my best friend 9 years.
So you did not cut Neighbour’s grass during the summer for £10 a garden ?????.
In your spare time, 

p00hsticks

adeo said:

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

What exactly does your forecast show?

What is important is the amount you have actually accrued to date, not the likely headline figure of £185.15/week.

£185.15/week

It ought to say more than that. It should  say something like

'your forecast is  £185.15,  £805.07 a month, £9660,86 a month'

and then either something like

'You cannot improve on this forecast any more' or

'You need to continue to contribute National Insurance to reach your forecast'

Which is it ? 

If the latter, it will then go on to say how many more years you need to contribute

molerat

Now being answered in the pensions board.

adeo

p00hsticks said:

adeo said:

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

What exactly does your forecast show?

What is important is the amount you have actually accrued to date, not the likely headline figure of £185.15/week.

£185.15/week

It ought to say more than that. It should  say something like

'your forecast is  £185.15,  £805.07 a month, £9660,86 a month'

and then either something like

'You cannot improve on this forecast any more' or

'You need to continue to contribute National Insurance to reach your forecast'

Which is it ? 

If the latter, it will then go on to say how many more years you need to contribute

See screenshot!