I’m 50. Have retired. Have 26 full years worth of NI contributions. Live abroad. Is it worth...

vinyldude1210

... me topping up the 1 available year 2022/23 at £824.20 and if so when? 

I’m envisaging to hopefully not have to work again. No guarantees, but, that’s the aim. 

I’ve read through Martin’s article several times at length and I’m still non-the-wiser, it is so confusing! 

I’ve also read something about Class 2 contributions being cheaper than Class 3 (I think it was!) to top up if you live abroad, which further confuses me.  

Dazed_and_C0nfused

vinyldude1210 said:

... me topping up the 1 available year 2022/23 at £824.20 and if so when? 

I’m envisaging to hopefully not have to work again. No guarantees, but, that’s the aim. 

I’ve read through Martin’s article several times at length and I’m still non-the-wiser, it is so confusing! 

I’ve also read something about Class 2 contributions being cheaper than Class 3 (I think it was!) to top up if you live abroad, which further confuses me.  

You don't seem to have done the most basic thing yet, check your forecast (reading it in full) so you know what your current position is.

Until you do that how can you know if buying additional years are worthwhile or not 🤔

NB.  I presume you have got past the point of thinking 35 years is of any relevance to you.

pinnks

Just to add a bit on the Class 2 point.  If you worked in the UK until immediately before you left and were working abroad during any year you want to buy, then you may qualify to pay Class 2 at about £164, rather than Class 3 at £824.  You need to complete form CF83 (online) so that HMRC can consider your request.  But before that, you need to get a pension forecast and see what it says.