Current Position In The UK National Insurance Scheme

Mama_Tyke

I'm turning to this forum as I've been trying to get through to the Future Pensions phone line for the last 3 weeks with no success.
8 years ago this coming December I voluntarily retired from work at 40 due to a heart operation I had, I don't claim any benefits at all and I immediately set up voluntary NI contributions to ensure I still got my full state pension when the time comes. I'm lucky that my husband earns enough not to need me to contribute in any way. I no longer work or claim anything at all. 
I received this letter at the beginning of May and they have not taken any of the usual contributions by direct debit since. I did manage to get through to the NI team but all they could say was you are up to date and you need to speak to the future pensions team, I simply can not get through to them. This letter seems to suggest I am now fully paid up (I'm 48 this year) unless the rules change. Has anyone one else experienced this that can confirm at all?

molerat

The only way to tell is to get a pension forecast but the letter seems quite clear.  Do you have access to your on line tax account ?

Exodi

molerat said:

The only way to tell is to get a pension forecast but the letter seems quite clear.  Do you have access to your on line tax account ?

I'm with molerat, this is something you can check relatively quickly and easily on your personal tax account.

Either login (or register) at:

https://www.gov.uk/personal-tax-account

It will show you a breakdown of your NI contributions and your position.

Mama_Tyke

molerat said:

The only way to tell is to get a pension forecast but the letter seems quite clear.  Do you have access to your on line tax account ?

Hi, thank you for your reply and yes I have, it shows as full at the moment

Mama_Tyke

Exodi said:

molerat said:

The only way to tell is to get a pension forecast but the letter seems quite clear.  Do you have access to your on line tax account ?

I'm with molerat, this is something you can check relatively quickly and easily on your personal tax account.

Either login (or register) at:



It will show you a breakdown of your NI contributions and your position.

Thank you, I will have a look into this.

molerat

Mama_Tyke said:

molerat said:

The only way to tell is to get a pension forecast but the letter seems quite clear.  Do you have access to your on line tax account ?

Hi, thank you for your reply and yes I have, it shows as full at the moment

What does it show below that, there may be more figures or a statement about you cannot improve your forecast ?

Just about everyone will have that box, it is pretty meaningless on its own, the important bit is what it goes on to say.

Mama_Tyke

molerat said:

Mama_Tyke said:

molerat said:

The only way to tell is to get a pension forecast but the letter seems quite clear.  Do you have access to your on line tax account ?

Hi, thank you for your reply and yes I have, it shows as full at the moment

What does it show below that, there may be more figures or a statement about you cannot improve your forecast ?

Just about everyone will have that box, it is pretty meaningless on its own, the important bit is what it goes on to say.

Yes it carries on as follows:

molerat

So that confirms what the letter states, you have reached the maximum and do not need to pay further voluntary contributions.  Good that the system has picked this up and automatically stopped taking the direct debit.

Mama_Tyke

molerat said:

So that confirms what the letter states, you have reached the maximum and do not need to pay further voluntary contributions.  Good that the system has picked this up and automatically stopped taking the direct debit.

Thank you very much, I appreciate your replies. I will rest a little easier I just wasn't expecting it. Thanks again.