Pension top up help for a 41 year old

RebekahR

I've been missing some years on my pension due to working temporary jobs so I missed out on some. I'm just wondering at my young age whether it's worth topping up. Martins programme seemed to imply 45+ but if I can top up at my younger age and benefit I would rather do so. Now I known nothing about all this stuff so where do I need to go to even look at this. All I can see is nightmares about ringing phone lines that cut you off or have long q's. Do I need to go through that hassle?

molerat

The first place to look https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Do you have an on line tax account ?

xylophone

First get your forecast.

What exactly does it say?

tacpot12

You don't need to call anyone yet. Get your State Pension forecast and report exactly what is says here. You can also find out which years are not "full" from a State Pension perspective. It is these years that you will need to make full to qualify for the maxium pension. I think making payments now is a good idea. 

If you want to make payments for missing years, you will need to call or write to the Future pensions centre. You have plenty of time to do this, so can wait for the influx of calls caused by the recent program to die down. Writing may be better if you want to avoid hanging on the phone. 

RebekahR

molerat said:

The first place to look https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

Do you have an on line tax account ?

I've no idea! I haven't set one up

RebekahR

xylophone said:

First get your forecast.

What exactly does it say?

I'm sorry what where do you get that from? I literally know nothing :-(

RebekahR

tacpot12 said:

You don't need to call anyone yet. Get your State Pension forecast and report exactly what is says here. You can also find out which years are not "full" from a State Pension perspective. It is these years that you will need to make full to qualify for the maxium pension. I think making payments now is a good idea. 

If you want to make payments for missing years, you will need to call or write to the Future pensions centre. You have plenty of time to do this, so can wait for the influx of calls caused by the recent program to die down. Writing may be better if you want to avoid hanging on the phone. 

What you can't just pay online?! I thought the gov was meant to be all futuristic!

RebekahR

I have a government gateway thingy does that count?

molerat

RebekahR said:

xylophone said:

First get your forecast.

What exactly does it say?

I'm sorry what where do you get that from? I literally know nothing :-(

molerat said:

The first place to look https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

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R20223

I have a government gateway thingy does that count?

Yes use link already posted to get to your pension forecast 

RebekahR

What happens if you pay too much insurance do you get it back?