Missing NICs - what to do for the best?

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Guide discussion: Voluntary national insurance contributions.

tribpot

Hi all, just trying to follow the guide to understand what to do for the best for my husband.

He is 52, disabled and not well enough to work. This is unlikely to change before retirement age.  I've checked his forecast and he is missing 12 years of contributions - from 2017 onwards (when our son turned 12) and from 1999 to 2006. (There are two incomplete years further back as well).

I think this means we should buy those 12 years now, but it sounds like I should (or he should) contact the Future Pension Centre to discuss?

molerat

tribpot said:

Hi all, just trying to follow the guide to understand what to do for the best for my husband.

He is 52, disabled and not well enough to work. This is unlikely to change before retirement age.  I've checked his forecast and he is missing 12 years of contributions - from 2017 onwards (when our son turned 12) and from 1999 to 2006. (There are two incomplete years further back as well).

I think this means we should buy those 12 years now, but it sounds like I should (or he should) contact the Future Pension Centre to discuss?

Too late for the 1999-2006 now, you can only go back as far as 2006-07.

What is the current amount of his forecast, both the top line and the currently accrued amount ? 

Is he receiving benefits and being credited with NI ? 

What was he doing for those years from 2017 on ?

(I have asked the team for this post to be split into its own thread)

tribpot

Thanks - apologies if I should have put this in a separate thread, I could see other posters had put specifics of their own situation into this thread, so thought it was okay to do so.

He is in receipt of PIP but this doesn't give you an NI credit.  He doesn't work, so wasn't doing anything from 2017 onwards.

The forecast based on the currently accrued amount is £123.84 a week, the topline is £185.15 but that's based on him making 12 years of contributions so I assume is based on him making some contributions in future years.

MSE_ForumTeam5

We've split this into its own thread so people can give focussed help.

molerat

Yes, the top line amount is based on making contributions going forward. So he has 15 years going forward to get the necessary 12 to fill the pension (185.15 - 123.84 / 5.29 = 11.59 years).  It may be worth buying the cheapest 2 - 20-21 & 21-22 - as they are at the original low price and maybe anything that is part filled, anything else is at the current full price, then pay as you go along to make up the rest.  Has taken advice on his benefits to see if he could be on something that would give him credits which are currently worth £15.85 per week ?

xylophone

He is 52, disabled and not well enough to work. 

Has he checked on benefits (as well as  PIP) to which he might be entitled and would give him NI credits?

https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-credits

tribpot

Thanks @molerat and @xylophone that's really helpful.