On phone to HMRC for payment of voluntary NI contributions. How long?.. 16 February at 12:30PM in Pensions, annuities & retirement planning 8 replies 380 views

Diane60

Just this really. Am lucky to have received the Pension Forecast from DW&P. I now need to get the 18 digit reference number to pay my shortfall. 

Tried twice already, the wait was approximately 40 mins each time, then line went dead.
im now still waiting to be answered (31 mins so far). How long was your wait and when is the best time to call? Thanks

Audaxer

Diane60 said:

Just this really. Am lucky to have received the Pension Forecast from DW&P. I now need to get the 18 digit reference number to pay my shortfall. 

Tried twice already, the wait was approximately 40 mins each time, then line went dead.
im now still waiting to be answered (31 mins so far). How long was your wait and when is the best time to call? Thanks

Too long at this time of day. Best to phone at 8am and you shouldn't have much of a wait. It is the HMRC number you need to phone to get the reference number to make the payment. However first you should check with DWP Future Pensions Centre that paying your shortfall will definitely increase your forecast.

Silvertabby

Do you need to pay for any pre 2017 years?  Is your SPA imminent?  If the answer to both questions is 'no', then I'd wait until after 5 April.  Until then, the phone lines will be chokka with people who have left paying for their pre 2017 years until the last minute.

Diane60

Yes, one year is 2016/2017 and I’m already receiving State Pension.
Will try tomorrow morning early. Thanks for your replies.

yp70479

I went to the Future Pensions Service and when they confirmed that paying extra was right for me, and how much to pay they transferred me straight to the right dept at DW&P. The only thing is that I'm not sure they can advise you if you are already receiving your pension.

pinnks

Silvertabby said:

Do you need to pay for any pre 2017 years?  Is your SPA imminent?  If the answer to both questions is 'no', then I'd wait until after 5 April.  Until then, the phone lines will be chokka with people who have left paying for their pre 2017 years until the last minute.

If you wait to pay until after 5 April the price will increase by 10.1% for 2017/18 thru 2020/21 for Class 3 and 2017/18 thru 2021/22 Class 2.  Personal choice and depends on which years but an extra £83 per year Class 3 would be quite costly.

Rodders53

We called a week or two ago around 11:30 and the total time including talking to the nice young man from Newcastle was around 55-56 minutes.  We may have been answered just within a 40 minute cut off time, possibly?

The musak is monotonous though.

Mid-week early morning and just before lunch are 'hearsay' the best times.

It's only going to get busier as all those wanting to lock in the current year cost rather than next year's price for older years contributions as well as those (like my wife) who need to go further back than the 'last 6'.

Diane60

 I did get through early yesterday and was given my 18 digit reference number.
However the website they gave me to pay through, was incorrect. Used the information from this website and am now sorted. Thanks for all you replies. 

gamston

i was on the phone 45 mins till my call was answered (2 weeks ago) to future pension service, they then transferred me to HMRC for my 18 digit number
yesterday 50 mins on the phone to (0300) NI allercation folks,