Unable to pay for voluntary national insurance before the cutoff date

bailsinbarnsley

Yes I have got access to my NI record through the Gateway so I know which years I have paid NI for. However, the system only works before you get the state pension. As I am over 66 and receiving a state pension there is nothing I can do to access to get the 16 digit code and amount I need to pay. Apparently, the only way I can get this info/permission to pay for voluntary NI contributions is via phone 0800 731 0400 and then they request a letter from HMRC and then Dept for Work and Pensions send the details to me. They requested this information in the last week of November and they haven't had a reply from HMRC and expect a 6 month delay so the cutoff date will happen before I get my letter.

p00hsticks

As far as I'm aware you don't actually need 'permission' to pay voluntary NI - they just like to make sure that the contributions are going to actually make a positive impact on your pension.

Nor do you need a reference code if you are prepared to pay by post using a cheque - you can just quote your NI number instead - see the link here

https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance/by-post

and as per my previous post, the cost for each year is freely available online - you just need to establish and make clear in your letter which years you wish to buy.

I asked a few posts back that you tell us exactly how much you get now and what years you are missing in your NI record. If you tell us that, then people here should be able to give you enough information (which years to buy and how much they'll cost) for you to be able to buy the missing years by post.

You say you are 66 - I presume that you reached state pension age in this current tax year (2022-23) ?

molerat

I agree that figuring out which years to pay, how much and the mechanics of paying is very straightforward but I wonder though if there is some sort of joined up system for those purchasing years post retirement.  What  triggers TPS to look again at an NI record ?  Would they just do it if they were told by an individual that extra years have been purchased ?

bailsinbarnsley

I have spoken to them several times and told that I need a reference code from them which links my my NI details to the amount I send to my bank to make sure it is going to be recorded for my linked uprated pension.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-insurance/by-post

If you do not have an HMRC payslip

Include a note with:

your name, address and phone number

your Class 3 National Insurance contributions reference number (or National Insurance number)

how much you’re paying

the period you’re paying for

bailsinbarnsley

Thank you. I will try this, seamingly simple process, today and report back if I come across any problems or success.

bailsinbarnsley

Also, thanks P00hsticks,
the information you asked for is that I currently receive £143.39 per week. My NI contributions are:
2021 to 2022 Nil as I was receiving a state pension from 24 February 2022 (tax year 2021 to 2022)

2020 to 2021 Year is not full I can make up the shortfall by paying a voluntary contribution of £795.60 by 5 April 2027. This shortfall may increase after 5 April 2023.

2019 to 2020 Year is not full. I can make up the shortfall by paying  a voluntary contribution of £824.20 by 5 April 2026. This shortfall may increase after 5 April 2023.

2018 to 2019 Year is not full I can make up the shortfall by paying a voluntary contribution of £824.20 by 5 April 2025. This shortfall may increase after 5 April 2023.

All the years from 2017 to 2008 are also not full (because I was living in France). It says I can pay £824.20 for each of these years by 5 April 2023

Following the very helpful advice I have on received on here I am very tempted to send a cheque to them in the post,  but if I can only pay for the previous 6 years I'm not sure if that would mean I can only pay for years 2016 to 2021 (as I couldn't pay any NI because I was retired) or from 2015 to 2021

xylophone

Did you see this?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79784845/#Comment_79784845

Well proof that some things work well on some days!!!   In under an hour the power of MSE forumites have directed me on how to sort this, I've made a call, got the reference number in under 20 minutes including hold time and having to take the phone into another room to get my OH to ok me talking on his behalf, and a payment has been made.  Chap on the line was very nice, polite and helpful.

molerat

bailsinbarnsley said:

Also, thanks P00hsticks,
the information you asked for is that I currently receive £143.39 per week. My NI contributions are:
2021 to 2022 Nil as I was receiving a state pension from 24 February 2022 (tax year 2021 to 2022)

2020 to 2021 Year is not full I can make up the shortfall by paying a voluntary contribution of £795.60 by 5 April 2027. This shortfall may increase after 5 April 2023.

2019 to 2020 Year is not full. I can make up the shortfall by paying  a voluntary contribution of £824.20 by 5 April 2026. This shortfall may increase after 5 April 2023.

2018 to 2019 Year is not full I can make up the shortfall by paying a voluntary contribution of £824.20 by 5 April 2025. This shortfall may increase after 5 April 2023.

All the years from 2017 to 2008 are also not full (because I was living in France). It says I can pay £824.20 for each of these years by 5 April 2023

Following the very helpful advice I have on received on here I am very tempted to send a cheque to them in the post,  but if I can only pay for the previous 6 years I'm not sure if that would mean I can only pay for years 2016 to 2021 (as I couldn't pay any NI because I was retired) or from 2015 to 2021

So you need 8 years to reach the full amount

How many years do you hold pre 2016 ? That is the deciding factor whether pre 2016 years are available / worth paying.

If you were living and working in France then class 2 may be an option but again depends on your pre 2016 years already held.

Were you in a final salary contracted out pension scheme ?

That is why we ask all these questions.  It is not being nosey but very important to understanding what your options actually are, the line drawn in 2016 is very important in this.  If you are unsure of how the system works and without the help of TPS/FPC it is quite easy to pay HMRC for years that will not add to your pension, the only ones that definitely will are from 2016-17 onwards.

bailsinbarnsley

Thanks, I have tried to answer all the questions below. I don't expect to be able to get a full pension but any increase on £148 pw would be good.

How many years do you hold pre 2016 ?

According to the records they hold for me: I have: 35 years of full contributions and 15 years when I did not contribute enough

That is the deciding factor whether pre 2016 years are available / worth paying.

According to the records they hold for me:

All of the years from 2008 to 2021 are not full but it says I can pay £824.20 for each of these years by 5 April 2023.

2007 to 2008 Year is not full. National Insurance credits: 9 weeks. I can make up the shortfall by paying a voluntary contribution of £681.55 by 5 April 2023. 

2006 to 2007 was my last full year.

I was living in France with my parents from 2007 to 2017 but unable to work because I had a debilitating stroke when I was 50.

Were you in a final salary contracted out pension scheme ? Yes I worked for Royal Mail for 35 years and was contracted out for several years.

I fully understand why (and do not think you are being nosy) you are asking there very relevant questions. Any assistance on fathoming the above would be greatly appreciated.