On-line payment for additional NI contributions

Hedgehogsingarden

Hi, I know we've left it late but, in theory, there is still time to make additional NI contributions This is for my wife who is 62 and has a shortfall of 5yrs to get the full state pension. I've looked into her NI record and she has a number of 'Year is not Full' statements between the qualifying years (2006-2017). Taking the best 5 years, in terms of shortfall to make up, this equates to £1535 to pay. So, as the saying goes, it's a no brainer! It's pointless trying to speak anyone on the phone so I thought I would go online and just pay it. Maybe it's me but I cannot find anywhere on HMRC website where I can do this. Can anyone offer any advice?

molerat

Are you certain those years pre 2016 will actually add to her pension ?

Go into her on line tax account, look at her NI record / View payable gaps / Check if you can pay gaps on line

If that option is not available you need to arrange a call back Request a call back to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions - GOV.UK

To check if those years are viable post up the following anonymous details from her forecast

Current weekly £££.pp amount up to April 2024.
Number of full NI years 15-16 and earlier
Number of full NI years 16-17 and later
Tax year you reach state retirement
Any COPE amount.  If you have "You've been in a contracted-out pension scheme" on your forecast then click
here https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-your-state-pension/account/cope whilst logged into your tax account
Years which show not full and prices

Tescodealqueen

Experts will be along soon but don’t automatically assume years before April 2016 will improve your pension it is more complicated than that and may be a waste of money. It depends on what your wife’s pension forecast says in detail 

Hedgehogsingarden

Thanks for your responses. I discovered and followed the 'View Payable Gaps' link and this did take me through to the option to pay on line - I just didn't see it originally There were five options provided, starting from the lowest gap year to pay (07/08) up to option 5 with the best 5 years with the least gap amount to pay and it worked out as I expected. This takes it up to the maximum state pension allowed to top up the 30 full years already accrued by my wife. Thanks again!

p00hsticks

Hedgehogsingarden said:

Thanks for your responses. I discovered and followed the 'View Payable Gaps' link and this did take me through to the option to pay on line - I just didn't see it originally There were five options provided, starting from the lowest gap year to pay (07/08) up to option 5 with the best 5 years with the least gap amount to pay and it worked out as I expected. This takes it up to the maximum state pension allowed to top up the 30 full years already accrued by my wife. Thanks again!

@Hedgehogsingarden   
Just to clarify - please confirm that 
a) you are confident that any and all pre-2016 years bought will actually increase her State Pension and 
b) you are not labouring under the misapprehension that 35 years NI will automatically get someone born last century a ful lstate Pension.  

molerat

p00hsticks said:

Hedgehogsingarden said:

Thanks for your responses. I discovered and followed the 'View Payable Gaps' link and this did take me through to the option to pay on line - I just didn't see it originally There were five options provided, starting from the lowest gap year to pay (07/08) up to option 5 with the best 5 years with the least gap amount to pay and it worked out as I expected. This takes it up to the maximum state pension allowed to top up the 30 full years already accrued by my wife. Thanks again!

@Hedgehogsingarden   
Just to clarify - please confirm that 
a) you are confident that any and all pre-2016 years bought will actually increase her State Pension and 
b) you are not labouring under the misapprehension that 35 years NI will automatically get someone born last century a ful lstate Pension.  

Using the on line tool will not allow you to add years that don't count and shows what effect each option has on the current amount.