National Insurance Gaps 3 March at 3:07PM in Pensions, annuities & retirement planning 18 replies 858 views

dacdac

My wife has the following gaps in her national insurance contributions:

• 31 years of full contributions
• 8 years to contribute before 5 April 2030
• 12 years when you did not contribute enough

Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2022 £143.67 a week

Forecast if you contribute another 8 years before 5 April 2030 £185.15 a week

She has 31 pre 2016 years and zero post 2016 years

Her cope estimate is £23.10 per week

For years 2010 - 2011 to 2019 - 2020 the cost is £824.20

For 2020 - 2021 it is £795.60

For 2021 - 2022 it is £800.80

I have given up trying to get through to the Future Pensions Service so can anyone offer any guidance as to which years we should buy?

Once I understand which years are most beneficial I plan to pay them by cheque.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

dacdac said:

My wife has the following gaps in her national insurance contributions:

• 31 years of full contributions
• 8 years to contribute before 5 April 2030
• 12 years when you did not contribute enough

Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2022 £143.67 a week

Forecast if you contribute another 8 years before 5 April 2030 £185.15 a week

She has 31 pre 2016 years and zero post 2016 years

Her cope estimate is £23.10 per week

For years 2010 - 2011 to 2019 - 2020 the cost is £824.20

For 2020 - 2021 it is £795.60

For 2021 - 2022 it is £800.80

I have given up trying to get through to the Future Pensions Service so can anyone offer any guidance as to which years we should buy?

Once I understand which years are most beneficial I plan to pay them by cheque.

Perhaps you could start by explaining why you want to pay the earlier years?

That seems to be missing from your post.

dacdac

We want to maximise her state pension in the most cost effective way. She will not be returning to work so this needs to be done by purchasing years. I am unsure of which ones to buy and when.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

dacdac said:

We want to maximise her state pension in the most cost effective way. She will not be returning to work so this needs to be done by purchasing years. I am unsure of which ones to buy and when.

In that case just buy post 2016 years, starting with the cheapest.

NannaH

Does she look after any Grandchildren/ do the school run etc. ? If she does she can claim specified adult credits until the child is 12.   

molerat

She needs another 8 years to reach the maximum with 8 years going forward and 6 viable gaps going back. Years 2015-16 and earlier cannot add to her pension.  If she needs to buy them, taking into account NannaH's point, the cheapest option is the 6 back yeas, 17-18 to 20-22 then buy 22-23 and 23-24 sometime in the 24-25 tax year prior to April 2025.

dacdac

molerat said:

She needs another 8 years to reach the maximum with 8 years going forward and 6 viable gaps going back. Years 2015-16 and earlier cannot add to her pension.  If she needs to buy them, taking into account NannaH's point, the cheapest option is the 6 back yeas, 17-18 to 20-22 then buy 22-23 and 23-24 sometime in the 24-25 tax year prior to April 2025.

Perfect, Thanks.

MGOC100CR

Same here, just want to sort this but cannot get through to Futures Pensions, just need someone to confirm for me please

Aged 52
Now living In Rep of Ireland.
Unlikely to return to UK for work due to my circumstances
I have 21 Full years NI
I can buy gap years 06/07, 07/08, 08/09, 09/10, 11/12, 12/13, 13/14, 14/15 and 15/16 ( I worked in Rep of Ireland then )
So 9 x 824.20 = 7417.80 to pay
I have currently £101.88 accrued pension for the years worked.
Each year gives me £5.29 per week extra so 9 years bought would get me £47.61extra per week 
Add to £101.88 would give me £149.49 per week.
Could buy later years 19/20, 20/21, 21/22 as slightly cheaper but deadline for these not imminent so thought leave for now, maybe do in the future to get up to 35 max.

It makes sense to buy these 9 years?

Have I missed something?

molerat

So 9 x 824.20 = 7417.80 to pay

Have I missed something?

Yes.

https://www.gov.uk/national-insurance-if-you-go-abroad

MGOC100CR

Not jumping out at me, don't see relevance.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

MGOC100CR said:

Not jumping out at me, don't see relevance.

The potential for paying voluntary Class 2 NI?