NI voluntary contributions

vonbod

Feeling very frustrated as I have called the Future Pension Center re paying voluntary NI contributions (3 years not full) only to be told I am out of time even though the scheme doesn't finish until 5th April!

Silvertabby

vonbod said:

Feeling very frustrated as I have called the Future Pension Center re paying voluntary NI contributions (3 years not full) only to be told I am out of time even though the scheme doesn't finish until 5th April!

Were these 3 years pre 2006?

WelshKAD

Hello I have just paid £4800 NI voluntary contribution placed into the last 6 tax years, this has now increased my weekly state pension due in Nov 2024 by £31 per week or £1650 per year. As long as I live 2.97 years I will have made a good choice.....
I just want to help anyone looking to do the same. I had 12 years I could contribute into however my online forecast only said I was 2 years short of the 35 required. Having spoken to the Future Pension Centre I then realise I had to contribute into the last 6 years from 2016 to maximise my pension especially as I had been contracted out of SERPS many years ago.
Having spent 2 days trying to get through to the FPC I finally managed to get through via the DWP call centre on 03002003500.I was on hold for 75 minutes but is was worth it as they were able to provide my personal 18 digit NI number needed as a reference to pay any voluntary contribution ( after speaking to the DWP). They were also able to put me directly through to the FPC who informed me how much I needed to contribute to maximise my State Pension and into what years to allocate the contributions
The DWP will then need to know what years you are contributing into and the 18 digit reference they will then provide is specific to that contribution and NI  years you wish it allocated.... I transferred the money on the 6th March and it is already showing on my Gateway forecast.... Long winded but worth it 
 

p00hsticks

WelshKAD said:

Having spent 2 days trying to get through to the FPC I finally managed to get through via the DWP call centre on 03002003500.I was on hold for 75 minutes but is was worth it as they were able to provide my personal 18 digit NI number needed as a reference to pay any voluntary contribution ( after speaking to the DWP). They were also able to put me directly through to the FPC who informed me how much I needed to contribute to maximise my State Pension and into what years to allocate the contributions

That telephone number is actually for the HMRC NI Enquiries line. It sounds as if you somehow managed to get things done back to front - normally you're expected to speak to the DWP FPC first on 0800 731 0175 to get advice on which years will add benefit, and only then to HMRC on the number you've quoted to get the reference number to be used to make an online payment for those years. (FPC can sometimes transfer you directly).

 It may be that they have adapted their process to best cope with the demand though.
 Glad you got it all sorted.

WelshKAD

Yes it was a little backwards however this may be a backdoor to access FPC which is totally unobtainable at the moment

dickjhf

Following conversations with the Future Payment Centre my wife duly obtained an 18 digit reference number from HMRC and made a voluntary NI payment on 23 JANUARY. Having heard nothing she called HMRC several times and eventually spoke to an HMRC agent on 14 February who confirmed her payment had been received and it would be immediately allocated to her NI Record. This has still NOT happened! She has had no response to a letter dated 06 March so eventually submitted a formal complaint to HMRC on-line on 19 March. The complaint was acknowledged immediately but she has heard nothing since....
Extremely frustrating!!

molerat

Both myself and MrsM didn't speak to anyone and simply sent cheques in the post.  No need to wait for letters, just worked out what needed paying as all necessary information is on the personal tax account.