National insurance contributions

molerat

That's the number.  With 27 years and 6 empty post 2016 years he must have 0 filled which means he can fill at least 3 pre 2016 but beyond that depends on circumstances and that is  only available from a pension forecast or phone contact with FPC. A lot depends on the cost of those pre 2016 years as they often don't give as much benefit.

CraigSmith9390

I was just reading another great article from the newsletter, in relation to the pension boost.

I have noticed there is no mention of what to do if you are in full time education and are therefore missing NI Contributions. All of my contributions are at a full year, apart from my 3 years of full time study at university.

I was wondering if there is any specific advice on this?

p00hsticks

CraigSmith9390 said:

I was just reading another great article from the newsletter, in relation to the pension boost.

I have noticed there is no mention of what to do if you are in full time education and are therefore missing NI Contributions. All of my contributions are at a full year, apart from my 3 years of full time study at university.

I was wondering if there is any specific advice on this?

Generally, I think the advice would be not to worry about it.

Those born this century will only require 35 full NI years to reach the maximum state pension, and there should be plenty of opportunity between leaving full time education and reaching State retirement age to achieve that, either via employment, benefits. voluntary payments or a mixture of all of them .

The only people I can think of that theoretically might need to voluntarily buy the years would be (very) mature students who have been in contracted out employment for all of their working lives and so need far more than 35 years under the transitional rules, and for whatever reason have decided to re-enter full time education just before retiring. But even those may find that they have already achieved the maximum allowable new State Pension by now. 

Bek_3

Hi, I'm 58 and receiving an RAF pension and need 5 years more NI contributions for a full state pension. I've started self employed acting as a supporting artist (extra!). I'm going to earn less than £1000 in the year so do not need to pay tax or NI. Can I pay voluntary self employed NI Class 2 contributions of £3.15 per week so earning a full year for £163.80? This would be much cheaper than buying extra years at about £800. Thanks

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Bek_3 said:

Hi, I'm 58 and receiving an RAF pension and need 5 years more NI contributions for a full state pension. I've started self employed acting as a supporting artist (extra!). I'm going to earn less than £1000 in the year so do not need to pay tax or NI. Can I pay voluntary self employed NI Class 2 contributions of £3.15 per week so earning a full year for £163.80? This would be much cheaper than buying extra years at about £800. Thanks

Yes.  Providing you complete a Self Assessment return each year you are self employed and have registered as self employed with HMRC.

The Self Assessment return caters for people who are self employed, have business turnover less than £1,000 and wish to pay voluntary Class 2 NI.

Richard_Dyer

It appears that HMRC have little of no interest in helping people with their decissions as to whether or not to buy missing National Insurance contributions. It's understandable that the service would be overwhelmed, and therefore getting through would surely take considerable time and persistance. However the way the autmated phone line works appears to ensure that getting through is virtually impossible. Every one of the considerable number of calls I made to 0800 731 0175 culminated in a short engaged line sound then an abrupt hanging up. Any other organisation running a busy telephone enquiries service would have an automated queing system. Why can't HMRC? Is it lack of funding or lack of will? I suspect the lattter.

pinnks

Don't blame HMRC for an issue that is nothing to do with them.  HMRC is responsible for the collection of National Insurance contributions but whether or not paying any particular year voluntarily will improve your pension is nothing to do with HMRC.  Pensions are administered by DWP and it is them that you need to discuss the benefits or otherwise of voluntarily filling a particular NI year.  Indeed the number you quote above is a DWP number.
  

p00hsticks

Richard_Dyer said:

Any other organisation running a busy telephone enquiries service would have an automated queing system. Why can't HMRC? Is it lack of funding or lack of will? I suspect the lattter.

In this particular instance, I'd suggest it's both. 
As pinkks points out, you are actually referring to DWP rather than HMRC, but the service provided by both has actually been, in my experience, fully available (complete with call queuing system) and functioning successfully for many years. 

This last minute once-in-a-lifetime peak in demand for their services is exceptional, and IMO appears partly to have been further exacerbated by bad media reporting, panic and FOMO. I can't imagine that either HMRC nor DWP would be able to justify the cost of additional call centres and extra fully trained staff required to fully cater for this very short term spike in traffic.

Cycad9

Hi, I have a query about paying class 1 NICs after my 66th birthday.   I’m employed and my employer runs a monthly payroll, but my 66th birthday fell mid way in the month.  They have deducted NICs for the whole month and say they cannot amend but will change my status for next month’s payroll run.  My calculation is that I’ve overpaid £150 between my birthday and end of the month.   Any ideas anyone?   Many thanks

gsw55

Does he have any incomplete years. Topping up years which are incomplete can be a very cost effective way of increasing years without having to make a full years payment. But you need get a move on as the process is not quick and the window for anything but the last 3 years has been extended but closes in July