FUTURE PENSIONS CENTRE

molerat

Years 15-16 and earlier will not add to her pension.  She needs to top up only with years 2016-17 and later.

She needs a total of 5 more years to reach the max, 4 will take her to £199.19 at £5.28 per year and the 5th will add £4.66 taking her to the full £203.85.  Each year purchased will add £5.82 to her pension so 3 years will bring her to £193.36 as you have calculated.

20-21 should be available at £795.20 and 21-22 at £800.80 so she should get 16-17, 17-18 and 20-21 before the end of July when 16-17 ceases to be available and the other 2 increase to £34.90 and £907.40.

trumpeter_2

Thank you so much for taking the time, molerat 

xylophone

years prior to 2016 37

Then only years from  6/4/16 - 5/4/25 will improve the pension.

Her starting amount (6/4/16) for NSP was the higher of

Old Rules

NIQY/30 (max) x £119.30 (Full Basic) + (Additional State Pension - Deduction for Contracting Out).

£119.30 + (ASP - "COD")

New Rules

{NIQY/35 (max) x £155.65 (Full NSP)} - COPE.

£155.65 - £21.35

She could buy

2016/17

2018/19

and then assuming 23/24/24/25/25/26 are qualifying years she will reach full NSP?

Re 2016/17

https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions/deadlines

Dazed_and_C0nfused

trumpeter_2 said:

My wife has been trying to get through to future pensions and, like most others it would seem, failing! I think she needs to take advantage of the opportunity to make up at least 3 years. Here are the details:

SPA year: 2025-26

Estimate to 5/4/22 £175.89pw
Forecast if you contribute to 5/4/25 £193.36pw
Maximum you can increase forecast to £203.85pw

years prior to 2016 37
years post 2016 none so far

COPE £21.35

She can buy:
15-16 £649.85
16-17 £301.15
17-18 £31.70 (not a typo)
other years at £824.20 (perhaps a little less from 23 onwards because she's working and paying contributions, but not much)

If I understand correctly, if she makes up those three 'cheap' years (15-18) it will increase her estimate to 5/4/22 to £193.36pw. And we can deal with the rest of the shortfall in due course.

I would be very grateful if one of you could confirm my understanding, or tell me why I'm wrong, please?

Many thanks in advance

When working you don't actually need to be paying NI to add qualifying weeks.

If she is earning above the LEL of £123 the week will count even though no NI is deducted.

trumpeter_2

Thanks very much for answering my next questions!
(xylophone and Dazed_and_C0nfused)
:-)

trumpeter_2

My wife just received a call from Future Pensions, who gave her the same information as you guys. I'm not surprised, of course, just mentioning that you guys know what you're on about for anyone else reading this thread.

"How did she come to have a call from Future Pensions?" I hear you ask!
She emailed her MP asking to be added to the list of people unable to get through to Future Pensions on the telephone. And her MP forwarded her complaint along with her details to the DWP.

I hope this helps someone.

p00hsticks

trumpeter_2 said:

"How did she come to have a call from Future Pensions?" I hear you ask!
She emailed her MP asking to be added to the list of people unable to get through to Future Pensions on the telephone. And her MP forwarded her complaint along with her details to the DWP.

Congratulations on getting over that hurdle - did they also put her through to HMRC to get the reference to actually make the payment, or is that one still to be jumped ?

With regard the Future Pensions Centre calling her, I believe we have also had cases reported on this board of them proactively calling some numbers that their telephone records have shown have made numerous unsuccessful attempts to get through to them, although the actual criteria isn't clear.

chrishorn

I am also having the same issue contacting the future pensions department.

I have lived abroad for the last 6 years

I have looked at my pension forecast. I have paid 28 full years, so I am 7 short of a full pension.

I can see the missing years (including 1 partial year) since I moved abroad

How can I pay this voluntarily if it is impossible to contact the future pensions department?

Is there another department I can contact directly to make the payment?

pinnks

If you are living abroad, then you don't need to contact the FPC.  You need to have a read of Social Security abroad: NI38 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), then complete the CF83 form.  Select Class 2 if you think you meet the criteria (broadly UK resident for at least 3 years, working in the UK until you left and working abroad), tick box 25 to indicate that you want to fill gaps and leave the bank detail blank.  In a covering letter, say you will settle for Class 3 if you don't qualify for Class 2.

If you get that to HMRC BEFORE 31 July 2023, then your position is protected and all years from 2006/07 to 2023/24 remain available and stay at the current prices.

It will take HMRC maybe 9 months to get to your form but they will then send a schedule of years you can fill, the amounts and a deadline by which you must pay to keep those years/rates.

In the meantime, folk on here can give you a heads up of the years that will add to your pension forecast 

molerat

chrishorn said:

I am also having the same issue contacting the future pensions department.

I have lived abroad for the last 6 years

I have looked at my pension forecast. I have paid 28 full years, so I am 7 short of a full pension.

I can see the missing years (including 1 partial year) since I moved abroad

How can I pay this voluntarily if it is impossible to contact the future pensions department?

Is there another department I can contact directly to make the payment?

35 years is of no relevance to you, you may need more or less than 35 to reach the full amount.

How much is you amount at April 2022 ?

Are you working abroad ?

Do you have a UK bank account with cheque book ?

What exactly does your forecast show ?

Current weekly £££.pp amount accrued up to April 2022 (or 2023 as some have been updated)
Number of pre 2016 NI years full
Number of post 2016 NI years full
Tax year you reach state retirement
Any COPE amount shown, in a click link in "You've been in a contracted-out pension scheme" if there is one.
Years which show not full and prices