Confused - Forecast shows full state pension, but have less than 35 full years NI

surfingsahara

I've checked my state pension forecast to see if there are any gaps that I should fill before the 5 April deadline. I have so far paid 33 full years and there is one year that is not full and I can still top up. 

However, I'm a bit confused -my forecast is £221 a week (so the full state pension) and it says 'You cannot improve your forecast any more.'

I don't understand this as I had thought that you need 35 full years to get the full pension. Is this just predicting that I will pay two more years before I retire?

I am 53 so I would assume/hope that as well(!), but I work in international development and have just had all foreseeable contracts cancelled due to overseas aid cuts so will have to change direction to earn anything... and you never know, so it would be nice to know at least my state bit of my pension is sorted.

I only need to pay £140 to top up the year in question, but equally I would rather not waste that money if I don't actually need to pay it. I have tried calling the helpline, but it's impossible to get through. 

Can anyone shed any light? Thank you!

Dazed_and_C0nfused

surfingsahara said:

I've checked my state pension forecast to see if there are any gaps that I should fill before the 5 April deadline. I have so far paid 33 full years and there is one year that is not full and I can still top up. 

However, I'm a bit confused -my forecast is £221 a week (so the full state pension) and it says 'You cannot improve your forecast any more.'

I don't understand this as I had thought that you need 35 full years to get the full pension. Is this just predicting that I will pay two more years before I retire?

I am 53 so I would assume/hope that as well(!), but I work in international development and have just had all foreseeable contracts cancelled due to overseas aid cuts so will have to change direction to earn anything... and you never know, so it would be nice to know at least my state bit of my pension is sorted.

I only need to pay £140 to top up the year in question, but equally I would rather not waste that money if I don't actually need to pay it. I have tried calling the helpline, but it's impossible to get through. 

Can anyone shed any light? Thank you!

As someone who is 53 where have you read that about needing 35 years?

If you have reached your personal maximum what benefit do you see from buying extra years?

surfingsahara

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

surfingsahara said:

I've checked my state pension forecast to see if there are any gaps that I should fill before the 5 April deadline. I have so far paid 33 full years and there is one year that is not full and I can still top up. 

However, I'm a bit confused -my forecast is £221 a week (so the full state pension) and it says 'You cannot improve your forecast any more.'

I don't understand this as I had thought that you need 35 full years to get the full pension. Is this just predicting that I will pay two more years before I retire?

I am 53 so I would assume/hope that as well(!), but I work in international development and have just had all foreseeable contracts cancelled due to overseas aid cuts so will have to change direction to earn anything... and you never know, so it would be nice to know at least my state bit of my pension is sorted.

I only need to pay £140 to top up the year in question, but equally I would rather not waste that money if I don't actually need to pay it. I have tried calling the helpline, but it's impossible to get through. 

Can anyone shed any light? Thank you!

As someone who is 53 where have you read that about needing 35 years?

If you have reached your personal maximum what benefit do you see from buying extra years?

Many places - e.g. Citizen's Advice. You usually need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions to get the full amount. You'll still get something if you have at least 10 qualifying years - these can be before or after April 2016.

I understand there is no benefit from buying extra years if I have reached my personal maximum, I'm just confused as to why it's saying I have reached the maximum if I have not paid 35 full years. Thank you!

bjorn_toby_wilde

If it says you cannot improve your forecast any more then you don’t need to pay any more NI.  You have already paid enough.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

surfingsahara said:

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

surfingsahara said:

I've checked my state pension forecast to see if there are any gaps that I should fill before the 5 April deadline. I have so far paid 33 full years and there is one year that is not full and I can still top up. 

However, I'm a bit confused -my forecast is £221 a week (so the full state pension) and it says 'You cannot improve your forecast any more.'

I don't understand this as I had thought that you need 35 full years to get the full pension. Is this just predicting that I will pay two more years before I retire?

I am 53 so I would assume/hope that as well(!), but I work in international development and have just had all foreseeable contracts cancelled due to overseas aid cuts so will have to change direction to earn anything... and you never know, so it would be nice to know at least my state bit of my pension is sorted.

I only need to pay £140 to top up the year in question, but equally I would rather not waste that money if I don't actually need to pay it. I have tried calling the helpline, but it's impossible to get through. 

Can anyone shed any light? Thank you!

As someone who is 53 where have you read that about needing 35 years?

If you have reached your personal maximum what benefit do you see from buying extra years?

Many places - e.g. Citizen's Advice. You usually need 35 qualifying years of National Insurance contributions to get the full amount. You'll still get something if you have at least 10 qualifying years - these can be before or after April 2016.

I understand there is no benefit from buying extra years if I have reached my personal maximum, I'm just confused as to why it's saying I have reached the maximum if I have not paid 35 full years. Thank you!

The 35 years rule applies to those first building up an NI record from 2016 onwards.

Have you checked gov.uk guidance?