Cut off from Future Pension Centre phone line - is there an easier way to sort things out?

jem16

Manchesterlodger said:

jem16 said:

Manchesterlodger said:

So after dialling at 8am, I got through to the Future Pensions centre after a 56 minute wait and was told that my years living in Canada count for a UK pension even if I didn't work there - that just living there counts. I was told that I need to provide proof that I lived in Canada 4 months before I claim my UK pension. The documents for proof are unspecified (when I asked I was told it could be a letter from someone who knew me). I was also told to call the International Pensions line to check this and that, depending on what they say, I may not need to pay the £158.20 charge for 2018 - 2019.   

I want to trust the information I've been given but it's the first time I've been told this so it's floored me. 

I will try and get through to the International Pensions line and see what they say (and update this post once I have). 

Your years in Canada only count with regards you meeting the UK minimum requirement of 10 years. You already meet that requirement. Simply living in Canada will not count with regards to the amount you will receive from the UK. 

Hopefully someone in the International Pension Centre will give you a more sensible answer. 

Thanks for this. This is what concerns me. If you can't get accurate information from the Future Pensions Centre, what hope is there? 

They really should have directed you to the International Pension Centre and not given you any other information. 

My son currently lives in Canada and is applying to pay Class 2 contributions to increase his UK pension. He’s lived there since 2012 and is employed there so paying into the Canadian Pension Plan. His CF83 form was received by HMRC on 14th September and he’s still waiting for it to be looked at. They’re now saying it’s a 36 week wait. 

Manchesterlodger

So I got through to the International Pensions service and was told by staff that they cannot deal with this query as it comes within the remit of the Future Pensions Service. They did not know why the Future Pensions Service had directed me to the International Pensions Service because the International Pensions Service only deals with imminent claims. She suggested I get details from Canada of what I am entitled to and then go back to the Future Pensions Service and query it further. Apparently there is something called ANZAC which covers Canada. She also suggested I write in and complain about the service I received from the Future Pensions Service.

So now I'm left with waiting for the document from Canada detailing my forecast pension from Canada but I don't know whether it will have the information that the Future Pensions Service will need and I don't trust that the Future Pensions Service will give me the correct information anyway. And I don't know when the Canadian document will arrive. If I was in Canada it would take 5 - 10 days but Canada Post are notorious for poor delivery and I have no idea how long international post will take to reach me. 

Honestly I am so fed up. Why does it have to be so hard to try and find this information out? It could make a big difference to my future financial security if I was able to pay some of the extra payments but without being able to get accurate information I'm completely in the dark and I simply do not know what to do and don't have the expertise (or time) to wade through loads of information and try and make sense of it.   

Manchesterlodger

jem16 said:

Manchesterlodger said:

jem16 said:

Manchesterlodger said:

So after dialling at 8am, I got through to the Future Pensions centre after a 56 minute wait and was told that my years living in Canada count for a UK pension even if I didn't work there - that just living there counts. I was told that I need to provide proof that I lived in Canada 4 months before I claim my UK pension. The documents for proof are unspecified (when I asked I was told it could be a letter from someone who knew me). I was also told to call the International Pensions line to check this and that, depending on what they say, I may not need to pay the £158.20 charge for 2018 - 2019.   

I want to trust the information I've been given but it's the first time I've been told this so it's floored me. 

I will try and get through to the International Pensions line and see what they say (and update this post once I have). 

Your years in Canada only count with regards you meeting the UK minimum requirement of 10 years. You already meet that requirement. Simply living in Canada will not count with regards to the amount you will receive from the UK. 

Hopefully someone in the International Pension Centre will give you a more sensible answer. 

Thanks for this. This is what concerns me. If you can't get accurate information from the Future Pensions Centre, what hope is there? 

They really should have directed you to the International Pension Centre and not given you any other information. 

My son currently lives in Canada and is applying to pay Class 2 contributions to increase his UK pension. He’s lived there since 2012 and is employed there so paying into the Canadian Pension Plan. His CF83 form was received by HMRC on 14th September and he’s still waiting for it to be looked at. They’re now saying it’s a 36 week wait. 

Not according to staff at the International Pension Centre. According to them the Future Pension Centre should have answered it. 

Honestly I'm so stressed by all this - it's just horrible.

jem16

Manchesterlodger said:

So I got through to the International Pensions service and was told by staff that they cannot deal with this query as it comes within the remit of the Future Pensions Service. They did not know why the Future Pensions Service had directed me to the International Pensions Service because the International Pensions Service only deals with imminent claims. She suggested I get details from Canada of what I am entitled to and then go back to the Future Pensions Service and query it further. Apparently there is something called ANZAC which covers Canada. She also suggested I write in and complain about the service I received from the Future Pensions Service.

So now I'm left with waiting for the document from Canada detailing my forecast pension from Canada but I don't know whether it will have the information that the Future Pensions Service will need and I don't trust that the Future Pensions Service will give me the correct information anyway. And I don't know when the Canadian document will arrive. If I was in Canada it would take 5 - 10 days but Canada Post are notorious for poor delivery and I have no idea how long international post will take to reach me. 

Honestly I am so fed up. Why does it have to be so hard to try and find this information out? It could make a big difference to my future financial security if I was able to pay some of the extra payments but without being able to get accurate information I'm completely in the dark and I simply do not know what to do and don't have the expertise (or time) to wade through loads of information and try and make sense of it.   

Ok my advice would be to complete the CF83 form as best as you can and get it sent to HMRC before 31st July. That way they must honour the application even if it's processed after July 2023.

Also why not have a look on this forum for expats in Canada. I know you're back in the UK but it should help. There are plenty of people there talking about paying Class 2 or Class 3 to increase their UK state pension.

https://britishexpats.com/forum/canada-56/

ilovedogs13

Hi folks, I would be most grateful if someone could advise me. I am unable to get through to the Future Pension Centre despite many many phone calls!
My forecast is £198.53 a week (not far off maximum of £203.85). Will start to get pension December 2025. Didn't think I'd have any shortfall as have worked most of my life, but now discover that despite having 41 years of full conts, because I was 'contracted out' before 2012, I do have this £5 per week shortfall. Not a great sum, admittedly, but since I am a waspi woman, they've already deprived me of 6 years pension, I don't want them to get yet more! There are 6 years when I didn't pay enough. One of these years (13/14) needs a voluntary contribution of only £ 158.50 to make it a full year. If I do this, how much will my pension forecast increase by? (I want to know whether it's worth me making the vol. contribution for that year.) Would be very grateful if anyone knows? Also, if it is worth doing, how do I contact them to pay? Thanks....

Dazed_and_C0nfused

If you already have 30 pre 2016 years it's unlikely to increase your forecast.

Do you have any post 2016 years available?

Do you expect 2022-23 to be a qualifying year from working?

xylophone

Not a great sum, admittedly, but since I am a waspi woman, they've already deprived me of 6 years pension, 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80009952#Comment_80009952

See page 6

https://www.dpf.org.uk/explorer/files/TOPPING-UP-YOUR-STATE-PENSION-GUIDE.pdf

Which years from 6/4/2016 onwards are already qualifying years?

If all, 23/24 can be a qualifying year (contributions/credits).

ilovedogs13

Thanks for your responses. 

This is the info you have requested:

Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2022

£181.06 a week

Forecast if you contribute until 5 April 2025

£198.53 a week

All years prior 2016  are qualifying years except 13/14.
Since 2016 I have full years in 16/17 and 17/18,
Short years are 18/19, 19/20, 20/21 and 21/22 - all of which require vol. cont. of £670+ to make full.
Since April 22 I qualify for (and am receiving) NI. credits.

Thanks for your advice.......

p00hsticks

ilovedogs13 said:

Thanks for your responses. 

This is the info you have requested:

Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2022

£181.06 a week

Forecast if you contribute until 5 April 2025

£198.53 a week

All years prior 2016  are qualifying years except 13/14.
Since 2016 I have full years in 16/17 and 17/18,
Short years are 18/19, 19/20, 20/21 and 21/22 - all of which require vol. cont. of £670+ to make full.
Since April 22 I qualify for (and am receiving) NI. credits.

Thanks for your advice.......

So as you already have more than 35 years prior to April 2016, making up that partial 13/14 year isn't going to achieve anything, I'm afraid. 
Assuming that you carry on getting NI credits from now up to 5th April 2025, making a voluntary contribution to fill any one of those 18/19 to 21/22 years (whichever is cheapest) would increase your state pension by £5.22 to the maximum £203.85

ilovedogs13

Thank you so much. So, from what has been said above, it seems it's worth me making up one of these later years at around £670 contribution, as providing I live for more than 3 years after I retire, I'll recoup the cost of the voluntary contribution? Have I understood this correctly? And do I need to pay this vol. contribution by 31st July this year?
Thank you all for your patience and help!