Additional voluntary NI contributions

molerat

You would need to speak to HMRC about that.  Why did you buy that year - just because it was there or after advice from FPC ?

But what exactly does your forecast show ? - both before and after that purchase

Current £££.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

From that we can work out exactly how that part year worked

calypso_rhapsody

TrackerL said:

Re: 18 digit reference. The experts here have confirmed you will benefit from the extra years. Phone HMRC and tell them you have been told the year will benefit you, they will give you the code.

No risk based on the advice of the collective here.

Sadly the lady i spoke to at HMRC was adamant that i needed to speak to the Futures Pension advisors at DWP and she would not accept otherwise despite the fact that my own forecast clearly states that i need to pay one more year to get the maximum pension.

My husband's case is more complicated and i do really appreciate your advice on this but i think that as i failed to convince her in my own case the chances of doing so for him are zero.

Just need patience to get through to FP it seems!  Pretty irritated!  (adjective not my first choice but the one that springs to mind is perhaps not for this forum!)

LEthERaD

Before the purchase 38 years of full contributions, 1 year to pay.
After the purchase 39 years of full contributions, 1 year to pay.
Has not updated for 2023 yet.
Pre 2016 39 years full contributions.
Post 2016 zero years of full contributions.
Reach state retirement age Jan 2024.
No cope amount shown.
Estimate based on your National Insurance record up to 5 April 2022, £200.48 a week.
Forecast if you contribute another year before 5 April 2023, £203.85 a week
I did speak to FPC, but possibly misunderstood about which year I needed to buy.
Thanks again

molerat

There must be a COPE amount with 38 pre 2016 years and not at the full amount - but that is of no real relevance now.  That year could not have added any value so there must have been some confusion - how long ago was it done ?  You need to speak to HMRC and explain the situation and see how it goes.

ottersteve01

I wish you the best of luck in dealing with the pensions office.
I have had a nightmare trying to do what you are hoping to. The left hand really has no idea what the right hand is doing there.
They told me to write in and claim back £2500 in overpayment. This i did and six months on - nothing.

LEthERaD

molerat said:

There must be a COPE amount with 38 pre 2016 years and not at the full amount - but that is of no real relevance now.  That year could not have added any value so there must have been some confusion - how long ago was it done ?  You need to speak to HMRC and explain the situation and see how it goes.

No mention of COPE anywhere in the online statement, but agree it does not matter now. It was paid about 6 months ago, but for months nothing showed as paid. A phone call to HMRC said they could see my payment, but it had not been allocated to any year. I will contact HMRC and will update how it goes, but as ottersteve01 has said, I'm not expecting a quick solution.
Thanks again for all the help.

molerat

There should be a statement "You've been in a contracted-out pension scheme" down the page with a click link to the COPE.  There must be one as with 38 years you would be receiving the full amount.

LEthERaD

Thanks, you are correct, my statement said ...

You need to continue to contribute National Insurance to reach your forecast

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

£200.48 a week

Forecast if you contribute another year before 5 April 2023

£203.85 a week

£203.85 is the most you can get

After State Pension age, xx January 2024, you no longer pay National Insurance contributions.

View your National Insurance record

Your forecast may be different if there are any changes to your National Insurance information. There is more about this in the terms and conditions.

You’ve been in a contracted-out pension scheme

Like most people, you were contracted out of part of the State Pension.

When I click on the link "you were contracted out of part of the State Pension" it states ...

You were contracted out

In the past you’ve been ‘contracted out’ of the additional State Pension.

When you were contracted out:

you and your employers paid lower rate National Insurance contributions, or

some of your National Insurance contributions were paid into another pension scheme, such as a personal or stakeholder pension

The amount of additional State Pension you would have been paid if you had not been contracted out is known as the Contracted Out Pension Equivalent (COPE).

Contracted Out Pension Equivalent (COPE)

Your COPE estimate is £6.64 a week

This will not affect your State Pension forecast. The COPE amount is paid as part of your other pension schemes, not by the government.

In most cases the private pension scheme you were contracted out to:

will include an amount equal to the COPE amount

may not individually identify the COPE amount

The total amount of pension paid by your workplace or personal pension schemes will depend on the scheme and on any investment choices.

Find out more about COPE and contracting out (opens in new tab)

calypso_rhapsody

Thanks to all who commented on my original query. After trying a ridiculous amount of time to get through to Future Pensions i eventually contacted my MP whose assistant managed to get me and my husband 18 digit references.  I regret having to use his support but i was getting quite annoyed about spending so much time holding on the phone only to get cut off!

Now my b-i-l has told me of a lady who has been told that even though she has 35 years full contributions she must top up her last year contributions (by about £200) in order to preserve about £5 per week of future pension.  Does this make sense to anyone?

jem16

calypso_rhapsody said:

Now my b-i-l has told me of a lady who has been told that even though she has 35 years full contributions she must top up her last year contributions (by about £200) in order to preserve about £5 per week of future pension.  Does this make sense to anyone?

Makes perfect sense. The 35 years has no relevance to anyone with a pre April 2016 NI Record. She is obviously one year short of getting a full new state pension.