Why am I offered top with a full State Pension ?

SRA70

I currently qualify for the full stater pension having accrued 37 years full NI contributions.  I retired in 2018 but don't yet claim the state pension as I'm not 67 yet.  When I got my state forecast and looked at my NI contributions, it says I can top up missing years (for 2018 onwards).  If I can not improve my state then why do they offer me to top up ?  Thanks.

Silvertabby

Have you actuallly checked your State pension, or just your NI history?  35 (or even 37) years is irrelevant to you, as you are in the transitional period.  If you retired in 2018 with a lot of contracted out (of SERPS/SP2) service, then you may not have accrued the full nSP rate 

As an example, I needed 48 years of NI contributions (44 from working, 4 from post retirement/pre SPA voluntary Class 3s) in order to get the full nSP. 

SRA70

Thanks.  I actually checked my state pension forecast on the government portal and forecasted £221 per week with the comment 'you cannot improve your state pension'.  I then saw that I could pay further top up NI but with the comment on the forecast suggesting I can't improve it.   

SRA70

Is there any webpage that explains this in full ?  The Citizens advice and other formal pages I looked at seemed to suggest that I could claim the full post 2016 state providing I had 35 years.

pinnks

I assume you are looking at your NI record where it tells you how many full years you have, how many not-full years and how many years you would still pay NI if you were working.  None of that means that paying past or future years will have any impact on your pension forecast.

If your forecast shows that, based on your NI record to 5 April 2024, you will received the maximum £221.20 per week and that you cannot improve that amount, that's all you need to know.  If you were to return to work, then you would pay NIC like any other earner but otherwise, your days of paying NIC are over... 

molerat

SRA70 said:

Thanks.  I actually checked my state pension forecast on the government portal and forecasted £221 per week with the comment 'you cannot improve your state pension'.  I then saw that I could pay further top up NI but with the comment on the forecast suggesting I can't improve it.   

As long as your pension forecast stated only one figure with the cannot improve tag then that is what you will receive with no need to top up any further.  The NI record is maintained by HMRC who have no knowledge as to how it affects your pension, they are simply tax collectors and can see you have gaps in your record which can be filled.

SRA70 said:

Is there any webpage that explains this in full ?  The Citizens advice and other formal pages I looked at seemed to suggest that I could claim the full post 2016 state providing I had 35 years.

You need to carefully read those pages.  The official .gov one has a clear caveat that 35 years only applies to those with no history prior to 2016, everyone with a pre 2016 history will need as many as it takes - anecdotal evidence on here puts that between 28 and 50 years depending on individual circumstances.

https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/what-youll-get

If your National Insurance record started after April 2016

If your National Insurance record started after April 2016 you will need 35 qualifying years to get the full rate of new State Pension.

Ayr_Rage

Read the forecast carefully and make sure it does not assume you will contribute NI until you are 67 !

SRA70

Thanks everyone.  I sort of assumed that the forecast I received from my Government Gateway account would be accurate and based on fact but I'll go off and read up more.  Not that I'm expecting to get a full state by the time I'm 67 anyway as I'm convinced it'll be means tested by then !!

pinnks

Your forecast is accurate and it is based on fact - you just need to make sure you are accurate and basing your understanding on fact, lol

LarsB

I appear to be in the same situation. 37 years of NI, no gaps and pension forecast of the £221. NI records still saying I can buy back 2022-23 and 23-24 which is making me doubt I’ll get the full pension

I’ve retired now on private pension so not likely to pay any further NI before getting my state pension (unless I need to return to work)

molerat

You need to understand exactly what the forecast is stating.  Does it say you are already at the full amount, it is made pretty clear with only one amount shown and will tell you that you cannot improve it.  If you are not there yet the text and amounts below the big box will describe what you need to do. The often misquoted / misunderstood 35 years is of no relevance to someone with a pre 2016 history. Your NI record is simply a matter of fact from the tax collectors, you have not made contributions for those years and it would cost £xxx.xx to fill them.