National Insurance voluntary contributions

M240

Just wanted to add to this topic by expressing my frustration with DWP and HMRC. I paid £795 on 3rd March for 20/21. My NI record is showing fully paid but I have still not received my increased pension after 12 weeks. Repeated phone calls to both departments have not got a satisfactory answer. I've made a formal written complaint to DWP today and demanded a written explanation from HMRC. As a former civil servant for 40 years I'm ashamed of these people. Is there anything else I can do to get the money due to me?

Marcon

M240 said:

Just wanted to add to this topic by expressing my frustration with DWP and HMRC. I paid £795 on 3rd March for 20/21. My NI record is showing fully paid but I have still not received my increased pension after 12 weeks. Repeated phone calls to both departments have not got a satisfactory answer. I've made a formal written complaint to DWP today and demanded a written explanation from HMRC. 

People have had several years in which to make voluntary contributions to meet the 5 April 2025 deadline for 'extra' backdating, but predictably there was a huge rush at the last moment and 'the system' was quite simply overwhelmed. It's a pity your contribution in respect of 20/21 came at the same time. I'm not sure what explanation you think you'll get, when the issue is being very widely reported in the media.

M240 said:

As a former civil servant for 40 years I'm ashamed of these people. Is there anything else I can do to get the money due to me?

...and you still don't think you are being hopelessly unrealistic to expect the top up to happen within 12 weeks? Applications are being processed in date order and yours was very recent.

Silvertabby

Plus, in the case of increasing a pension that is already in payment, it's not just a case of pushing a few buttons.  The whole thing has to be unpicked and adjusted manually.

Your increase will apply from the date your payment was received, so you won't lose any money, but you - and many like you - will just have to be patient.

Cobbler_tone

M240 said:

As a former civil servant for 40 years I'm ashamed of these people. Is there anything else I can do to get the money due to me?

So was my brother (for 40 years with the DWP ironically) and it took them 14 months to start paying his pension post retirement. Not the most efficient set up. 'Admin issues' was the reasoning given but he isn't one to complain.

p00hsticks

As you appear to be over state pension age, you are being very unrealistic in your expectations, as DWP will need to manually recalculate your pension. 

If you had made the voluntary contribution in 20/21, rather than leaving it until this year, when both DWP and HMRC have been inundated with people making similar payments, you most likely would have seen the benefit as soon as you claimed your pension. 

M240

Well I appreciate the comments although i cant say I've seen much in the media, but who wants to read the  news nowadays and ok it looks like I have a while to wait BUT it's the discourteous failure to even acknowledge my letters that gets me. At least its showing on my records I am  fully paid up now, so something must be happening. Dave