Impossible to contact the DWP??

p00hsticks

[Deleted User] said:

You need 35 years of NI contributions to get the full state pension.

Only if you were born this century and so started your working life after the introduction of the new State Pension in 2016, so not applicable in your case.  

[Deleted User] said:

My forecast states that I need to pay two more years (2021-22 and 2022-23) to reach the full amount, but my NI record states I have 40 years of full contributions.

That's perfectly possible - we've seen numbers ranging form 29 up to 50 on this board - I personally need 44. 
More than 35 indicates that you were contracted out prior to 2016 and so paid a lower rate of NI. 

[Deleted User] said:

I need to check with Future Pensions that my Voluntary Contributions for these two years are required to get the max. Then joy-of-joys I have to phone HMRC to get the 12 digit reference code for the payment.

It's actually an 18 digit reference. Others have reported that if they establish that it's a good idea to make voluntary contributions the Future Pensions Centre may be able to  transfer you directly though to HMRC. 

Alternatively if you are confident that the contributions will add value you can just send a cheque by posts with a covering letter, when you can just use your NI number rather than getting a reference.  
Pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

molerat

[Deleted User] said:

You need 35 years of NI contributions to get the full state pension.

My forecast states that I need to pay two more years (2021-22 and 2022-23) to reach the full amount, but my NI record states I have 40 years of full contributions.

I need to check with Future Pensions that my Voluntary Contributions for these two years are required to get the max. Then joy-of-joys I have to phone HMRC to get the 12 digit reference code for the payment.

Wherever did you get that wrong information from.  With a pre 2016 NI history you need as many as it takes, the variation seen on here is around 29 to 50.

What exactly does your forecast show as your amount at April 2022 (and is that figure taken before or after April 11th) ?

It is nothing clever or complicated, just simple maths.

molerat

[Deleted User] said:

molerat said:

Unfortunately "too late" was after December last year.

The deadline for making voluntary contributions towards pensions has been extended from April to 31st July 2023 - I just need to ensure that the contribution will increase my pension, as the online statement is contradictory. I am not sure what your "too late" comment means.

It was a slightly tongue in cheek comment because the April 2023 cut off date was published by an amendment to The Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001 on April 6th 2013.  Many people, including those that reached state retirement several years ago, have totally ignored this until a few months before that cut off date.  Many will also be upset to realise there was another "soft" cut off on April 5th 2019 when all the prices for those pre 2016 years drastically increased in line with the 2019-20 price, again published in that 2013 document.  Much of this chaos could have been avoided by the public taking some interest in their pensions meaning only those that actually needed this last minute contact could actually do so.  I ensured my SIL had hers sorted before the end of last year even though she does not reach retirement until the end of this year, it was obvious what was going to happen but there was no way that anything could be put into place to mitigate the public's lack of interest and the ensuing chaos.  The topic has been regularly discussed on these forums and others back as far as the introduction of the 2016 pension.

There is actually very little need for anyone to contact the various departments if a pension forecast and NI history is available.  It is a pretty straightforward logical path to work out what is required followed by a letter and cheque in the post.

[Deleted User]

Gollygumdrops said:

@[Deleted User].  I posted another comment the other day as to just this problem.  Still no one is answering the calls in either FP nor HMRC, you either get cut off or hang on for 56 mins before the phone is answered (my experience the other day).
After being answered at 56 mins I was then told that the office were having problems with their computer system so they couldn’t help me after all.  Talk about frustration and anger.
This to me seems like a deliberate ploy (though I cannot understand why) to stop people either contacting them or increasing their pensions.  
I too commented that I am now getting concerned that the phone lines will be like this until July 2023!
Have you managed to contact them yet?  I was too busy today but may try again tomorrow. 

I have tried several times today to phone without any success. I also sent a recorded delivery letter to HMRC and an email (via the gov.uk website) at the end of February. At the moment, neither have been responded to. "Frustration and anger" does not begin to cover it.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

[Deleted User] said:

You need 35 years of NI contributions to get the full state pension.

My forecast states that I need to pay two more years (2021-22 and 2022-23) to reach the full amount, but my NI record states I have 40 years of full contributions.

I need to check with Future Pensions that my Voluntary Contributions for these two years are required to get the max. Then joy-of-joys I have to phone HMRC to get the 12 digit reference code for the payment.

@[Deleted User]

Where have you got that quote from?

It cannot possibly apply to you if you have 40 years contributions as you are under transitional rules where there is no single number of years which is important.

Why not post your forecast in full along with details of which years you can add and the tax year you reach SPa and then you will get a explanation quite quickly.

p00hsticks

[Deleted User] said:

Gollygumdrops said:

@[Deleted User].  I posted another comment the other day as to just this problem.  Still no one is answering the calls in either FP nor HMRC, you either get cut off or hang on for 56 mins before the phone is answered (my experience the other day).
After being answered at 56 mins I was then told that the office were having problems with their computer system so they couldn’t help me after all.  Talk about frustration and anger.
This to me seems like a deliberate ploy (though I cannot understand why) to stop people either contacting them or increasing their pensions.  
I too commented that I am now getting concerned that the phone lines will be like this until July 2023!
Have you managed to contact them yet?  I was too busy today but may try again tomorrow. 

I also sent a recorded delivery letter to HMRC 

Just for others reading,

From a money saving view,  there is little point in paying to send ordinary letters 'signed for' or 'recorded delivery' to government departments such as DWP, HMRC etc, as post usually just goes to mail opening centres and won't be individually signed for.

You are best just using the normal mail, but handing it in at a post office and asking for a free proof-of-posting receipt. It is then legally deemed to have been delivered two days later. 

One qualification - if you are sending important / irreplaceable documents such as wills to the Probate Office, original birth certificates etc use a tracked service so that it's progress can be traced.