Class 2 or 3 after working in the USA

ReturnoftheNative

Hello all: I am past retirement age, but still working. I have three full years of NI paid, and have put in my request prior to April 5th to buy back years, so waiting to hear. My question. Most of my working life was spent in the USA where I paid into social security every year and have the record to prove it. I returned to the UK in 2022, and have 2 full years before I left and 1 after. The US has an agreement with the UK regarding pensions, tax, etc. The government website suggests that I might just possibly be eligible to buy back at the Class 2 rate rather than the Class 3. Can anybody suggest if this might be possible, and if there is anything I can do to apply for Class 2 now while I wait for my callback (or will that just confuse things)?  Thank you in advance for any information.

DRS1

I think there is a form CF83 which you can fill in.

molerat

If you were working / self employed / seeking work immediately prior to moving and had 3 years paid contributions and lived in UK for 3 consecutive years then you should be eligible to pay class 2 for periods when working overseas.  Completing a CF83 is the usual way to apply for overseas NI but how that plays out now as we are past the 5th April cut off for submission I don't know.  I believe there is another complication when applying for the  class 2 route when past retirement age.  As to what you should do ........................

Social Security abroad: NI38 - GOV.UK

ReturnoftheNative

DRS1 said:

I think there is a form CF83 which you can fill in.

Thank you,  I will have a look.

ReturnoftheNative

molerat said:

If you were working / self employed / seeking work immediately prior to moving and had 3 years paid contributions and lived in UK for 3 consecutive years then you should be eligible to pay class 2 for periods when working overseas.  Completing a CF83 is the usual way to apply for overseas NI but how that plays out now as we are past the 5th April cut off for submission I don't know.  I believe there is another complication when applying for the  class 2 route when past retirement age.  As to what you should do ........................

Thank you, I will read that link. I grew up in the UK and was working up until I left (although not for long). I had two full years before I left and one after returning. I'm now too ancient to be paying in any more   I very much hope I can, it would be a huge help.

ReturnoftheNative

Additional point/question. The CF83 looks as though it's for people who are still abroad, not for people who have come back and are now UK resident.

molerat

It is for all cases of applying for years overseas.

ReturnoftheNative

molerat said:

It is for all cases of applying for years overseas.

OK, thank you. Any thoughts on whether it will confuse things regarding my existing request to buy back years? It may take 8 weeks for them to get back to me on that request.

DRS1

8 weeks might be optimistic the way things are.

I have no idea if the callback can deal with the Class 2 or 3 issue over the phone so my instinct would be to fill it in now.

ReturnoftheNative

DRS1 said:

8 weeks might be optimistic the way things are.

I have no idea if the callback can deal with the Class 2 or 3 issue over the phone so my instinct would be to fill it in now.

Thank you. Any idea where to send it? There seems to be no email, so I suppose it's snail mail, to Future Pensions Centre?

DRS1

Isn't it an online form?

I am not sure where it should be sent by post - I have a feeling it might be International Pension Centre but maybe that is only if you are still abroad?
International Pension Centre - GOV.UK