Do not follow gov.uk instructions - chase DWP if not heard anything before receiving 1st payment

QrizB

Beerzx6r said:

She is currently getting the basic amount for 26 years contributions 

Exactly how much UK pension is she receiving?

£230.25 a week? More than that? Or less?

DRS1

Which years was she looking to top up?  Post 2016 years or older ones from when she was abroad?  Was she looking to pay Class 3 contributions or was she asking if any years qualified for class 2 contributions.

p00hsticks

Beerzx6r said:

she had to register on her gateway site as there was such a huge backlog but as long as she had done this prior to deadline was told it would not be a problem.  She is currently getting the basic amount for 26 years contributions and wanted to pay 9 additional years to top up to full 35 years. 

As others have said, it would be pure coincidence if she needed 35 to get the maximum amount - that;s only applicable to those falling entirely under the new system.

How much is the 'basic amount ' she is getting ?  

Beerzx6r

@QrizB @p00hsticks I can't remember exactly but around £176 I think, and thinking back to April it may have only said 8 years needed to top up.  I had noted the years we wanted to pay, they were mostly pre 2016.  In addition and obviously not our main concern but one of them (2022/23) was showing as £823 to top up when we checked in April (have screenshot) and when logging in now, has increased to £923.

@DRS1 she had a couple of class 2 contributions from her time abroad that have been added, but it was the class 3 ones she wanted to top up so she could be paid the full pension.

DRS1

I am wondering if the problem comes from the fact that she has just passed SPA.
If you are topping up NICs pre SPA then you talk to the Future Pension Centre and get a call back where you have registered for one.
But if you are topping up after SPA then you talk to another bit of DWP and from posts on here you get a letter saying what contributions you should make rather than a call.
The problem could be that she switched from one regime to the other part way through.
It is possible that whoever she was talking to was really trying to say you are talking to the wrong bit rather than saying you can't top up at all now you have passed SPA.
Not sure what the solution would be but she may need to speak to whoever deals with post SPA top ups and explain to them (or wait to see what they say in response to the complaint)

QrizB

Beerzx6r said:

In addition and obviously not our main concern but one of them (2022/23) was showing as £823 to top up when we checked in April (have screenshot) and when logging in now, has increased to £923.

With a couple of exceptions (the two immediately preceding years), years are payable at the rate that's in effect on the date of payment.

This year it's £923.

See:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rates-and-allowances-national-insurance-contributions/rates-and-allowances-national-insurance-contributions#class-3-national-insurance-voluntary