Overseas study and CF83 form

wangbadan

Hi there, 

I'm trying to fill out the CF83 form to pay for gaps in my national insurance record, but I'm encountering a lot of problems. In short, my overseas history is quite complicated and the form is not adequately set up to take it all into account. 

Some of my time abroad was funded from my own savings, so I was not employed or self-employed at that time. But of course there's no section on the form for this.

Also, the form doesn't mention anything about being a student overseas. I did a masters degree abroad for several years. I was not employed or self-employed at this time. There's no section on the form for this either.

And I can't get through to the NI support line to get advice from an actual human.

Any idea what I should do? Should I just complete the form to the best of my abilities and be done with it?

Thanks for any advice. 

maullwurff

It may be a bit late but I would:

• fill in the form online today (if this is still possible).
• the most important thing to make known are the dates of your period(s) abroad, whatever the status.
• in the form at the last step (prior to review) there's a box for adding any supporting information.
• here I would add the parts detailing your studying when you had no employer or when you were unemployed.

In addition I would fill in the form to request a callback (I can't post links yet) but type in "moneyweek" and "pensions callback" and you should find it. Make sure to screenshot the screen (with the taskbar showing the date) BEFORE and AFTER sending the form.

pinnks

There is no need for the form to cover the periods you mention because it is only interested in whether you were employed or self-employed as they are the only criteria for being able to pay Class 2 if you meet the "immediately before" criterion.  And by your own admission you were neither employed, nor self-employed during those periods.