How does one pay for extra State Pension?

Brie

I've checked our forecasts and OH's SP is short.  The only way for him to get more is for us to pay which I'd like to do.

There's only 1 years currently that can be paid for and that's for £221.90 and needs to be paid by 5th April this year. 

I can't see anything online on how one pays this.  Surely it's an automatic thing?  Or does one need to ring up and give card details?  Or send a cheque somewhere??  

Marcon

Endless threads on this - sadly not at all the 'automatic' approach!

See https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions/deadlines which should help.

Also see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6416789/problem-with-paying-voluntary-ni-contributions

Brie

OK so I've clicked through the gov uk link and finally got to something about paying class 2 and class 3 contributions.  I'm assuming that as the OH isn't a minister or making investments that he's a class 3 person.  So clicking through to the pay now page I'm confronted with this:

What is your Class 3 National Insurance reference number?

This is 18 characters and begins with 60. For example 603490017829614130. You’ll find it on your bill.

What???  What bill????  Why would he have a bill?????

Brie

Ah!!  Info on the second link.

eskbanker

Brie said:

There's only 1 years currently that can be paid for and that's for £221.90 and needs to be paid by 5th April this year.

Which year is that?  If pre-2016 it may not improve his pension entitlement....

Pat38493

Have you checked this guide - in particular the section near the end about how to buy them...

Voluntary national insurance contributions (moneysavingexpert.com)

Brie

@eskbanker - it's 2016/7
@Pat38493 - thanks but I still have the problem of not having a reference number.

Pat38493

Brie said:

@eskbanker - it's 2016/7
@Pat38493 - thanks but I still have the problem of not having a reference number.

The document seems to imply that you have to contact HMRC either by phone or web chat and discuss your needs and they will give you an 18 digit reference number which you then need to quote - at least that's the way I am reading it. 

Brie

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.

I love it when things work easily!!!  

bailsinbarnsley

Following my own recent experience, this sounds too good to be true. Please can you tell me the department you called and on what telephone number.

Brie

bailsinbarnsley said:

Following my own recent experience, this sounds too good to be true. Please can you tell me the department you called and on what telephone number.

0300 200 3500 HMRC