Can't get into telephone queue for the Future Pension Centre

molerat

bigfer said:

Can anyone advise the phone number to obtain the 16digit reference number plus hmrc bank details so I can pay for this year's ni contribution.?
I did it last year without a problem, but can't find the number. I don't need to talk to an advisor over my options. TIA

They may not give you a reference unless you tell them you have spoken to a DWP advisor - they don't want to be responsible for you paying for years that will not add to your pension.

slopemaster

Hello, I'm also unable to even get in the Q, and hoping someone can help from the info in my pension letter*

estimate based on NI record up to 5/4/22  £110.66
forecast if I contribute until 5/4/26  £133.96

it says I have gaps I can fill - but no detail of how many or which years.
most I can improve my forecast to is  £163.09

it says I reach pension age 14/9/26 (that's 3 months after my 66th b'day - is that correct?)
I'm male born 14.6.60, not working or contributing.

* I only have this info from the letter. Cannot get anything more specific about missing years from the website as I can't log in. (I asked twice for a code for government gateway and it was supposed to be sent but didnt turn up - last time was 2 weeks ago so its obvs not coming....)

Is there any way to tell from the limited info I have, which pre-2016 years i need to buy?
Very grateful if anyone can help

xylophone

Have a look at this, produced at inception of new state pension.

See page 6.

https://www.dpf.org.uk/explorer/files/TOPPING-UP-YOUR-STATE-PENSION-GUIDE.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions/who-can-pay-voluntary-contributions#:~:text=You must be eligible to,ago depending on your age.

At 6/4/16 your starting amount for NSP was the higher of

Old Rules

NI Qualifying years/30 (max) x £119.30 (Full Basic) + (Additional State Pension - (if applicable) Deduction for Contracting Out).

New Rules

{NIQY/35 (max) x £155.65 (Full NSP)} - (if applicable) Contracted Out Pension Equivalent.

In your case,

Number of pre 2016 NI years full ?

Number of post 2016 NI years full?

Do you have a COPE?

xylophone

Do you want to try again here?

https://www.gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record

molerat

slopemaster said:

Hello, I'm also unable to even get in the Q, and hoping someone can help from the info in my pension letter*

estimate based on NI record up to 5/4/22  £110.66
forecast if I contribute until 5/4/26  £133.96

it says I have gaps I can fill - but no detail of how many or which years.
most I can improve my forecast to is  £163.09

it says I reach pension age 14/9/26 (that's 3 months after my 66th b'day - is that correct?)
I'm male born 14.6.60, not working or contributing.

* I only have this info from the letter. Cannot get anything more specific about missing years from the website as I can't log in. (I asked twice for a code for government gateway and it was supposed to be sent but didnt turn up - last time was 2 weeks ago so its obvs not coming....)

Is there any way to tell from the limited info I have, which pre-2016 years i need to buy?
Very grateful if anyone can help

Those born from 6 April 1960 start transitioning to age 67 and fully implemented for those born from 6 March 1961.

The letter simply means you currently have £110.66.  The 4 years going forward, 2022-23 to 2025-26, will add another £23.30 taking you to £133.96 and you then have another 5 past year gaps you can fill adding another £29.13 making your max achievable £163.09.

xylophone has posted a link for getting your NI record, the on line chat option may be of use.

slopemaster

Thank you both for the useful pointers. I did manage to get into the NI record finally, but I'm still confused.

I have 19 years of full contributions:
12 years pre-2006
6 years 2006-16
1 year since 2016                         (and never been contracted out)

Between 2006 and 2016 I have 6 full years, one missing year which it says I can buy, and 3 years of  

"We are checking this year to see if it counts towards your pension."   Is it HMRC I need to contact over this?

The formula you gave suggests they are saying in my pension forecast that i can buy a max of 5 missing years, but I have 5 missing years post-2016, plus one from pre-2016 which they say I can buy, plus maybe the 3 mystery years??

Sorry if I'm being dense, but I do find it confusing and a bit stressful. It's the best investment possible, and i don't want to miss out.

Continuing to try to get in the Q for FuturePensions, but no luck yet...

molerat

Those 3 years showing as "checking" do not exist as far as the computer calculation is concerned ( they are not full, they are not empty, they simply don't exist ) so they will be an additional 3 years that can be added to your pension when sorted out.  It will be the HMRC NI enquiries desk you need to speak to about them, the same one you get the code from. Were you self employed and not paying class 2 at that time ?

Which actual years are showing as not full and what are the "checking" years ?

The forecast is clear - £110.66 to £133.96 is £23.30 / £5.82 = 4.  £133.96 to £163.09 is £29.13 / £5.82 = 5

slopemaster

Thanks again.

I was self-employed during that period, and paying voluntary class 2 contributions as on a low income.
I need to look through my boxes of old paper records for dates but about 2007-8 to 2017-18. I do remember (vaguely) a couple of glitches over the NI, I think one where they just stopped taking the DD and I didn't notice for ages, and one where I sent a payment but they allocated it to tax instead of NI.

2014 to 2015

2013to 2014

2012 to 2013

2011 to 2012

2009 to 2010

2008 to 2009 are the 6 FULL YEARS

2007 to 2008

2010-11

2015-16 are the 3 "we are checking" years 

and 2006-7 is available to buy, no contributions.

I'll look out my records tonight and phone HMRC in the morning. Your help is very much appreciated; it's good of you to take the time.

xylophone

There are ten years between 6/7 and 15/16.

You have six so potentially four years to purchase.

From 16/17 to 25/26 is  ten years and you have one year so potentially nine to purchase?

https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions/deadlines

Snuffkin_64

Hi There,

Just like everyone else I've been having issues getting through to Future Pensions for many weeks/months now no matter what time of day I try it just cuts off every time. I have requested a call via letter but nothing. 

I am trying to find out info on behalf of my father who's in prison, I do not have POA so I'm a bit dubious that the HMRC will talk to me, but he wants me to find out how many years voluntary contributions he needs to make/if it's worth it. I have control and access over his finances so making the payments is fine - if they'll let me. Would anyone kindly be able to advise us if it's worth making these contributions as everything is just going over my head? 

My father is 65, has 32 years of full contributions and was in a contracted out pension scheme. He has 16 years when he did not contribute enough (since 2006 - present, basically hasn't worked in that time)

- Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2022
£180.89 a week.
- Forecast if you contribute until 5 April 2023 £186.71 a week  
- The most you can increase your forecast to is £203.85 a week 

What I understand so far is that I should be able to call the HMRC and say that I've spoke to Future Pensions to get the 18 digit pin, and also, it seems it's not worth paying anything pre 2016? 
Would it be wise to buy some of the years in between now and 2016?

If anyone can help end this nightmare it'd be so appreciated!