Existing pensioner trying to buy extra years

confusedpensione

Just spent several hours trying to find a way to buy extra years when already a pensioner. System will not allow me to buy extra years online and directs me to the pension centre for advice. The Pension Centre phone line simply directs me back to the gov website? This seems to be a simple method to make something impossible to do. Have submitted a request for a call back. Now a wait of up to 8 weeks. I am beginning to wonder if this is actually possible and wondered if anyone had found a successful method?

QrizB

confusedpensione said:

I am beginning to wonder if this is actually possible and wondered if anyone had found a successful method?

As I understand it, since you have already retired you will have to speak to them about it.

Which years are you hoping to fill, do you know?

molerat

Once already in receipt of your pension it is a manual operation to confirm a) what is needed to top up and b) bring the pension into payment.  It is 2 separate steps.  You need to log for a call back.  On that call back you tell them what you want to do, they will then go away and calculate your options and reply to you in writing.  Once you receive that you make your payment in accordance with the instructions contained.  It may be up to a year before you see any money as it all operates a bit like Gringott's Bank for these beyond SP calculations but your pension will be backdated to receipt of payment.

p00hsticks

confusedpensione said:

I am beginning to wonder if this is actually possible and wondered if anyone had found a successful method?

It's certainly possible for people who are already over State Pension Age to buy any years they are missing from when they were under SPA (up to and including the tax year prior to that in which your reached State Pension age. 

But as molerat says it is not a straightforward procedure once you are already over SPA and claiming your pension.

If you can let people here know
a) what you are currently receiving in State Pension
b) the tax year in which you reached SPA and 
c) What gaps you have available to be filled    
people may be able to help determine what years you should be lookingi to buy

dreaming

I am in a similar position - i.e. already receiving pension but with a shortfall. After some very helpful advice from forum members here I spoke to someone yesterday (after only a 20 minute wait ). The guy was helpful, in that after security questions (name, address, NI number, weekly amount of pension I receive at moment), he advised me that I needed to speak to Pensions Changes but that they are open between 8-3, so he couldn't transfer me as it was after that time. I tried again this morning but after a longer wait decided to request a callback which is now logged (and screenshots taken as per Martin Lewis' advice). The man on the phone was very pleasant although he said they were extremely busy, so full marks to him. Full marks to Martin Lewis for highlighting this deadline and for all the knowledgeable people on here who are so willing to help. Thankyou.

FlowerMSE

If you get to speak to someone, good luck with that, they will tell you to wait for a letter that will take up to 28 days. The letter should lay out the calculation and give you a code, so you can pay HMRC. If you complain they will pass you to a "specialist" who will tell you it will be more like 8 weeks wait. During that time you will lose the extra pension due. HMRC will not pay the extra pension until you pay the extra contributions. The fact that it is their fault seems to escape them. Try ringing just after 8am. You might get through then. I am writing to my MP. The Pension Service needs more staff to deal with this.

FlowerMSE

I might add that until recently these contributions could be paid to HMRC online. For some reason they have decided on some extra bureaucracy.

Silvertabby

FlowerMSE said:

I might add that until recently these contributions could be paid to HMRC online. For some reason they have decided on some extra bureaucracy.

That's because people were cherry picking the cheapest options, without checking that paying for these years would actually add to their pensions (typically those with a lot of contracted out service needlessly filling pre 2016 gaps).  When they realised that they had 'wasted' their money, it became HMRCs problem and yet another thing for them to sort out.