Paul the Missing Years.

wixxy

I can take my state pension now. I haven't. I have some missing years prior to 2019 that I can repay by 5/4/25. I've searched online but cannot find the answer to this question; can I take the state pension now and still make up the missing years as above, or does taking the state pension then preclude me from filling in the missing years?

Silvertabby

Yes, you can take your pension now and then fill in any gaps later - but it would make life so much easier - for both you and DWP - if you make the payments before.

1.  Having to completely recalculate a pension that is already in payment is complicated and time consuming.  Could take as long as a year before you see the increased pension.

2.  Increases only apply from the date the payment was received, and are not back-dated to SPA (or date you started to draw your deferred pension).

ADD.  If some of your missing years are pre 2016/17 are you absolutely sure that paying them will definitely add to your pension?  No one size fits all but, in the simplest of terms, if you have 30+ years of pre 2016 NI contributions and have some contracted out service (usually because you were a member of a contracted out occupational pension) then the answer is "probably not".  

Rodders53

Check your SP forecast carefully... 
Missing years prior to 2016-17 may not add anything to pension.
Post 2016 likely will... but it all depends.

Future pensions will advise if you call them.   

It is far simpler and quicker to buy years before taking the pension.
But one can take pension and buy afterward in a much slower paper based process.

p00hsticks

Rodders53 said:

Check your SP forecast carefully... 

As OP has already reached State Pension Age, they won't be able to get a State Pension forecast now, even though they have deferred the payment. However they should still have access to their NI record via their online tax account.

Nor do I think the Future Pensions Service will be able to help - once over State Pension Age responsibility passes to the main Pension Service which only has a back-room service and deals with queries via letter rather than phone. 
 
OP - do you know what your current State Pension entitlement is, and what years are missing ? 
Just because you have gaps doesn't necessarily mean they need filling. You may already have the full amount, or the years with gaps may not increase the amount depending on which years they are. 

Posting that info up here will mean people can help you further. 

Marcon

There's a whole thread devoted to just this topic: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/state-pension-topping-up

Cobbler_tone

Maybe a dumb question...although are there any dumb questions with this stuff?!

I have 39 fully funded years at the age of 55. If I retired today would I still get the full pension at 67? It currently shows as full pension but wasn't 100% sure if this makes assumptions on any future contributions or if that is now irrelevant.

MallyGirl

Cobbler_tone said:

Maybe a dumb question...although are there any dumb questions with this stuff?!

I have 39 fully funded years at the age of 55. If I retired today would I still get the full pension at 67? It currently shows as full pension but wasn't 100% sure if this makes assumptions on any future contributions or if that is now irrelevant.

The state pension forecast page will tell you if any assumptions are being made about ongoing contributions, or it will say 'you cannot improve your forecast any further'. Ignore the number of years - it is more complex than that.

Cobbler_tone

MallyGirl said:

Cobbler_tone said:

Maybe a dumb question...although are there any dumb questions with this stuff?!

I have 39 fully funded years at the age of 55. If I retired today would I still get the full pension at 67? It currently shows as full pension but wasn't 100% sure if this makes assumptions on any future contributions or if that is now irrelevant.

The state pension forecast page will tell you if any assumptions are being made about ongoing contributions, or it will say 'you cannot improve your forecast any further'. Ignore the number of years - it is more complex than that.

£221.20 "You cannot improve your forecast any more." and that you need to continue to contribute if you are still working.

I would have been concerned if working from 16-55 and paying full contributions meant you were unable to retire without a penalty on the state pension.

eskbanker

Cobbler_tone said:
I would have been concerned if working from 16-55 and paying full contributions meant you were unable to retire without a penalty on the state pension.

That is the case for some, but not you apparently....

MallyGirl

Cobbler_tone said:

MallyGirl said:

Cobbler_tone said:

Maybe a dumb question...although are there any dumb questions with this stuff?!

I have 39 fully funded years at the age of 55. If I retired today would I still get the full pension at 67? It currently shows as full pension but wasn't 100% sure if this makes assumptions on any future contributions or if that is now irrelevant.

The state pension forecast page will tell you if any assumptions are being made about ongoing contributions, or it will say 'you cannot improve your forecast any further'. Ignore the number of years - it is more complex than that.

£221.20 "You cannot improve your forecast any more." and that you need to continue to contribute if you are still working.

I would have been concerned if working from 16-55 and paying full contributions meant you were unable to retire without a penalty on the state pension.

There are scenarios - for people contracting out and in DB pensions - where up to 50 years has been needed to get the full new state pension.
You have your answer - if you carry on working you need to pay NI but it won't increase your state pension

Cobbler_tone

MallyGirl said:

Cobbler_tone said:

MallyGirl said:

Cobbler_tone said:

Maybe a dumb question...although are there any dumb questions with this stuff?!

I have 39 fully funded years at the age of 55. If I retired today would I still get the full pension at 67? It currently shows as full pension but wasn't 100% sure if this makes assumptions on any future contributions or if that is now irrelevant.

The state pension forecast page will tell you if any assumptions are being made about ongoing contributions, or it will say 'you cannot improve your forecast any further'. Ignore the number of years - it is more complex than that.

£221.20 "You cannot improve your forecast any more." and that you need to continue to contribute if you are still working.

I would have been concerned if working from 16-55 and paying full contributions meant you were unable to retire without a penalty on the state pension.

You have your answer - if you carry on working you need to pay NI but it won't increase your state pension

I was more concerned about losing any if I didn't work.