Contacting The Right Department By Phone

shimeld

HI.

I just turned 72 years old in September, and I am very computer-literate.

Today I have been trying to top up missing NI credits online without success, so I tried the phone.

Earlier I tried earlier online and got a reply to say they would let me know within 3 weeks. I've never heard from them to date.

I have tried two numbers today, i.e, 0800 7310469 & 0800 7317898 without any success. Playing press button bingo, to try to get the right department to talk with someone. If you get the wrong department, you get cut off.

Online I can see a gap for one year in the last six, and it says they are looking into whether I need to pay gaps for that year. It's been like that for two years, and it never changes.

There are gaps going further back, (about 3 years), and of course I can't pay these online.

When I find the right link to pay anything, it says there are no gaps.

Has anyone had any success with the phone approach? If so, please explain how you were successful. I'm tearing my hair out. I just want to talk with someone.

Please help me.

jem16

As you’re over State Pension Age, the correct number to phone is the first one you posted. 

Perhaps give a bit more detail here? I’m assuming you’re male and reached SPA in September 2017 - is that correct?

How much are you currently receiving and were you contracted out? Were you working during the tax year 2016/17 and do you know if this was a qualifying year?

It might be the case that even if you have gaps that filling them may not make any difference to your pension. So a bit more detail would help to help you. 

p00hsticks

shimeld said:

Online I can see a gap for one year in the last six, and it says they are looking into whether I need to pay gaps for that year. It's been like that for two years, and it never changes.

?? If you are now 72, then presumably that gap is for the year before the one in which you reached state pension age, as you stop paying NI at that point. The most common reason for the 'looking into whether you need to pay' message we come across on these boards is when the person was self employed during the year in question and so could have made Class 2 payments.

molerat

There is also something sticking in my mind over the 6 year rule once past state pension age.

Also once past state pension age the only way to get the necessary information is from The Pension service who reply only in writing which can take several months due to the backlog.

shimeld

shimeld said:

HI.

I just turned 72 years old in September, and I am very computer-literate.

Today I have been trying to top up missing NI credits online without success, so I tried the phone.

Earlier I tried earlier online and got a reply to say they would let me know within 3 weeks. I've never heard from them to date.

I have tried two numbers today, i.e, 0800 7310469 & 0800 7317898 without any success. Playing press button bingo, to try to get the right department to talk with someone. If you get the wrong department, you get cut off.

Online I can see a gap for one year in the last six, and it says they are looking into whether I need to pay gaps for that year. It's been like that for two years, and it never changes.

There are gaps going further back, (about 3 years), and of course I can't pay these online.

When I find the right link to pay anything, it says there are no gaps.

Has anyone had any success with the phone approach? If so, please explain how you were successful. I'm tearing my hair out. I just want to talk with someone.

Please help me.

I reached SPA in 2017. I am Male.

I am receiving £875.76 per month. Yes I was working in during the tax year 2016/17.

shimeld

p00hsticks said:

shimeld said:

Online I can see a gap for one year in the last six, and it says they are looking into whether I need to pay gaps for that year. It's been like that for two years, and it never changes.

?? If you are now 72, then presumably that gap is for the year before the one in which you reached state pension age, as you stop paying NI at that point. The most common reason for the 'looking into whether you need to pay' message we come across on these boards is when the person was self employed during the year in question and so could have made Class 2 payments.

I reached SPA in 2017. I am Male.

I'm receiving £875.76 per month. Yes, I was working in during the tax year 2016/17. I started my current job in 2017 following a few years being self-employed.

jem16

shimeld said:

p00hsticks said:

shimeld said:

Online I can see a gap for one year in the last six, and it says they are looking into whether I need to pay gaps for that year. It's been like that for two years, and it never changes.

?? If you are now 72, then presumably that gap is for the year before the one in which you reached state pension age, as you stop paying NI at that point. The most common reason for the 'looking into whether you need to pay' message we come across on these boards is when the person was self employed during the year in question and so could have made Class 2 payments.

I reached SPA in 2017. I am Male.

I'm receiving £875.76 per month. Yes, I was working in during the tax year 2016/17. I started my current job in 2017 following a few years being self-employed.

I assume you mean £875.76 every 4 weeks as it’s not paid monthly? If that’s the case you’re only £2.26pw short of maximum which probably isn’t worth paying voluntary NI unless it’s at Class 2.

Is 2016/17 a full year or is it the one they’re checking?

shimeld

Yes my pension is paid every 4weeks. 2016/17 is the one that they are checking.

jem16

shimeld said:

Yes my pension is paid every 4weeks. 2016/17 is the one that they are checking.

How many NI years do you have? 

shimeld

jem16 said:

shimeld said:

p00hsticks said:

shimeld said:

Online I can see a gap for one year in the last six, and it says they are looking into whether I need to pay gaps for that year. It's been like that for two years, and it never changes.

?? If you are now 72, then presumably that gap is for the year before the one in which you reached state pension age, as you stop paying NI at that point. The most common reason for the 'looking into whether you need to pay' message we come across on these boards is when the person was self employed during the year in question and so could have made Class 2 payments.

I reached SPA in 2017. I am Male.

I'm receiving £875.76 per month. Yes, I was working in during the tax year 2016/17. I started my current job in 2017 following a few years being self-employed.

I assume you mean £875.76 every 4 weeks as it’s not paid monthly? If that’s the case you’re only £2.26pw short of maximum which probably isn’t worth paying voluntary NI unless it’s at Class 2.

Is 2016/17 a full year or is it the one they’re checking?

Further back there are a few gaps that I can't pay online because of the 6 year rule.

shimeld

I have 38 full years of NI contributions.