Getting Full State Pension by buying years

Morpheus999

I am a lady aged 60 and not earning. I am due to retire in 2030
My pension forecast in February 23 said I had 37 full years but needed to buy an additional 3 years to get the full pension of £185.15. I spoke to Future Pension team and decided to buy the additional 3 years. My new forecast has correctly shown the additional 3 years, but now says I need to buy another 2 years to reach the full pension of £203.85
I am confused as I expected the new forecast to show I had enough years (now 40 full years) to receive the full state pension with no further purchases.
Any thoughts?  

molerat

Which 3 years did you buy ?

Have you got a copy of the old forecast ?

If you post up the full details from your forecast we can have a look

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

Morpheus999

Hi Molerat
Thank you for your reply and I would answer as follows:

• Years bought were 2013/14; 2014/15; 2020/21, costing £1029.60 - they are now shown on my latest record as "Full Year"
• I have a copy of the old forecast in pdf format, but I cannot see how to upload it - can you suggest please
• Current £££.pp accrued ( adding monies paid inc the three additional years above = £9689.66 - other years are full due to credits for various reasons)
• Pre 2016 full years = 36
• Post 2016 full years = 4
• Retirement October 2030
• COPE is shown as £22.42 per week
• Not full years in latest statement:

 2021/22 - 0 contribution,    £800.80 to pay to make full year
 2016/17 - 23 weeks credit, £459.65 to pay to make full year 
 2015/16 - £16.29 credit,     £554.75 to pay to make full year 

Thanks for your help

molerat

Who told you to buy 13/14 and 14/15 as they have not added to your pension (and never would have done).  You were limited to a maximum of 30 useable pre 2016 years and were already in excess of that so should not have added any more. Pre 2016 years need to be treated with extreme caution especially with a COPE. That is why you need another 2 as I suspected as soon as I read your post.

What is the currently weekly amount shown ?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Op originally said this however I find it hard to believe FPC suggested buying 2013-14 or 2014-15.

I spoke to Future Pension team and decided to buy the additional 3 years

Morpheus999

Hi Molerat
Thank for your rapid reply.
My weekly pension as shown on the current NI Forecast is £197.79
Like most of the population, I spent hours trying to speak to the Future Pension Team, but eventually found an on line (real person) advisor who I told what I wanted to do and agreed the years. I was never warned that buying 13/14 and 14/15 would not contribute to my pension. Further, in the original forecast and yearly statement it sated that if I were to buy 3 more years, the pension would be at maximum - no rider about the 2016 date.
Thanks for your help

molerat

Who was this "on line" advisor ?  I thought the only contact available was by phone or letter. The problem you now have is that it seems you did not speak to DWP for advice but went straight to HMRC to make the payment.  HMRC do not know the effect of making payments, they purely deal with what gaps there are and the cost of filling them. That is why it is important to speak to DWP if you are unsure of what you need to do. You now need to speak to HMRC again and try and unwind the incorrect payment and set that amount against buying 16-17.  That 1 more year will take you to £203.61, 24p short of the max so there is no real point paying for a second year.

sheramber

presumably this one

https://www2.dwp.gov.uk/tps-directgov/en/contact-tps/fpc.asp

Morpheus999

Hi Molerat
I used the link from the NI page, which I now see is HMRC as you stated (I used  tax.service.gov.uk/ask-hmrc/chat/national-insurance). 
Thank you for your advice - I will do as you say and thank you again.

Morpheus999

Hi Sheramber

No, not seen this one - the one I used is shown in the above message

Morpheus999

Hi Molerat
I have been told to put it in writing to 'Individual Caseworker PT Operations North East' so that is what I will do.

May I ask where the calculation can be found to work out the pension in my case?  I tried, for interest, adding the full pre 2016 pension to 5/35 of the new pension but didn't get £203.61

Again, I am very grateful for your help and support.