National Insurance gaps due to working holiday visa

iwaskatyg23

Hey everyone. I was on a WHV in Australia from Jan 2013-December 2014, some part time work done over there. 

I've checked my pension forecast and I can claim my pension in 2051, it states that my forecast is £221.20 a week, £961.83 a month, £11,541.90 a year. It also states that the estimate based on my National Insurance record up to 5 April 2024 is £150.98 a week. I am working full time and have been since I came back from Australia (apart from some time at University but I was also working during this time). 

For 2013-2014 it wants a VC of £824.20 and for 2014-2015 a VC of £538.90

My questions are, do I need to pay the VC, will it actually make a difference? Can I get the record changed to show that I was out of the country, largely unemployed? I don't know how I would prove this as it was years ago and I had no idea I would need any of my paperwork for this sort of thing. 

Thank you! Embarrassingly uneducated in all of this sort of thing, they should teach this in schools. 

Brie

sounds to me like you have plenty of time to make up for the 2 lost years.  And you don't seem to be doing too badly on the NI contributions that have been made.

If anything I'd check if you have any credits from Australia that might be transferred here - check with the gov.uk international pension team. International Pension Centre - GOV.UK

molerat

Voluntary contributions are just that, you don't have to pay.  Your NI record is a matter of fact, you didn't contribute anything  / enough in those years, there is nothing to change. You need another 12 years of contributions, including 24-25, to reach the max with 27 years to get there so there is no point in paying money for those gap years.

iwaskatyg23

Thanks both! I’ve no plans to stop working full time in the next 12 years so I guess I don’t need to worry? I really don’t understand how I all works to be honest. As long as I’m not going to be missing out on anything when I get to pension age by having gaps…! 

Dazed_and_C0nfused

iwaskatyg23 said:

Thanks both! I’ve no plans to stop working full time in the next 12 years so I guess I don’t need to worry? I really don’t understand how I all works to be honest. As long as I’m not going to be missing out on anything when I get to pension age by having gaps…! 

As you have already accrued £150.98 each of the next 11 years you add will increase that by £6.32/year.  Taking you to £220.50.

The twelfth year will add the final £0.70 giving you £221.20, the maximum you can achieve.