Article - We wasted thousands on state pension top ups

p00hsticks

This just popped up on my MSN feed from ThisIsMoney. I haven't had a chance to look at it fully yet but at a quick glance it looks an interesting read 

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-13350453/Savers-waste-state-pension-ups-WRONG-advice-DWP-HMRC.html

molerat

Direct link

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-13350453/Savers-waste-state-pension-ups-WRONG-advice-DWP-HMRC.html

There does seem to be some confusion in the article, maybe intentional for a bit of added sensationalism, over which particular departments those concerned actually spoke to.

The comments show that the public just do not have a clue and have no intention of finding out, that is someone else's job, they want to be spoon fed.

p00hsticks

molerat said:

Direct link

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/article-13350453/Savers-waste-state-pension-ups-

Thanks molerat, I'll amend my initial post to use that link instead of the one I had

Silvertabby

I can see how some people may have been confused.  I needed 4 years of voluntary NI to take me up to the full nSP, with the 4th year giving me £4.80 per week (and so still well worth doing).

After these payments had been applied to my records, I was still showing one post 2016 year as 'unpaid' and  'available for payment'. 

eastcorkram

So if you've bought back an extra year or years, and it doesn't increase your pension, you get the money refunded?

p00hsticks

eastcorkram said:

So if you've bought back an extra year or years, and it doesn't increase your pension, you get the money refunded?

I don't believe so, unless you can show that you contacted the DWP Pension Centre to check before making the payment and were misadvised by them.

That is why HMRC specifically ask if you have spoken to them before taking your payment. 

When ithe subject hit the headlines last year (before the deadline was extended) many people panicked and when they couldn't get through to the Pension  Centre they just lied and told HMRC they had, or wrote cheques without speaking to anyone. 

As moelrat says, it's not always clear from the article exactly who people spoke to and in what order.