I've moved overseas - what to do with State Pension

Curls2208

Hi all,

I know the info is probably somewhere on the main website or on this forum but I haven't had much luck finding it.

I'm looking for advice.


Here is my situation - 

As of 1st April 2025, I left the UK and haven't contributed to National Insurance.

Before that I contributed for 14 of 17 years (since 2007-2008), missing only 3 years for uni (partial years apparently).

I now live in the EU, and do not contribute to British taxes. 


However, some of my British colleagues here, tell me that it is good if i continue to contribute to my National Insurance for my state pension ??

If that is the case....how do i go about doing this? The Gov website is also a bit of a minefield. 

For the 25-26 year, would I have to wait until the middle of next year to back pay the contribution, or can i just pay it now?


I will retire around 2060 most likely fyi, if the state pension age isn't raised dramatically and the world doesn't end (both seem more likely than me retiring!)

Thanks in advance, any advice is appreciated.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Curls2208 said:

Hi all,

I know the info is probably somewhere on the main website or on this forum but I haven't had much luck finding it.

I'm looking for advice.


Here is my situation - 

As of 1st April 2025, I left the UK and haven't contributed to National Insurance.

Before that I contributed for 14 of 17 years (since 2007-2008), missing only 3 years for uni (partial years apparently).

I now live in the EU, and do not contribute to British taxes. 


However, some of my British colleagues here, tell me that it is good if i continue to contribute to my National Insurance for my state pension ??

If that is the case....how do i go about doing this? The Gov website is also a bit of a minefield. 

For the 25-26 year, would I have to wait until the middle of next year to back pay the contribution, or can i just pay it now?


I will retire around 2060 most likely fyi, if the state pension age isn't raised dramatically and the world doesn't end (both seem more likely than me retiring!)

Thanks in advance, any advice is appreciated.

This is a decent place to start.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to-pay-voluntary-national-insurance-contributions-when-abroad-cf83

Although really the best thing to do first is to check your current State Pension entitlement so you understand how much you have accrued so far and how many additional years you will need to reach your personal maximum of £230.25/week.

You need to read the whole forecast, not just the headline figure.

NB. Amended to add missing link

Curls2208

Yeap, that's exactly what it says. 230.25pounds a week.

molerat

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-to-pay-voluntary-national-insurance-contributions-when-abroad-cf83

Review of contribution rates for overseas residents is one of the big announcements in the budget.  With in excess of 10 years UK residency you will still be able to contribute in future years but it will no longer be at the current favourable class 2 rate of around £190 but will be at the class 3 rate of around £960 as it really should be.  Class 2 recovers the capital outlay in round 6 months once receiving the pension, class 3 takes around 3 years, so really is a pretty ridiculous concept for the UK purse.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-voluntary-national-insurance-contributions-for-periods-spent-abroad

p00hsticks

Guidance here 
Apply to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions when abroad (CF83) - GOV.UK

I assume from that fact that you already have 14 years that you've been living in the UK for at least ten in a row, as I believe that there was a change as part of the recent budget to say that going forward that would be a requirement to make contributions from abroad. 

They have also suggested that they will be looking into the whole idea of making voluntary contributions.

Dazed_and_C0nfused

Curls2208 said:

Yeap, that's exactly what it says. 230.25pounds a week.

If that is true (very doubtful) then why would you want to buy additional years 🤔.

I suspect you have failed to follow this suggestion.

You need to read the whole forecast, not just the headline figure.

Grumpy_chap

AIUI, payment for past years (while resident in UK) can be made irrespective of where you currently reside but payment for years while resident abroad require the individual to be operating as sole-trader self employed, albeit overseas.

Flugelhorn

Dazed_and_C0nfused said:

Curls2208 said:

Yeap, that's exactly what it says. 230.25pounds a week.

If that is true (very doubtful) then why would you want to buy additional years 🤔.

I suspect you have failed to follow this suggestion.

You need to read the whole forecast, not just the headline figure.

yes probably says you could get the full amount IF you carry on working / paying 

Bostonerimus1

There was a time when you just read booklet NI38 and filled out the form at the back to apply to pay voluntary NI. I remember going to my local DHSS office (it was that long ago) asking for NI38 and posting the form from the USA once I had started work there and I've been paying Class 2 voluntary NI ever since. Today it's mostly web based and so more difficult to do IMO. Here is the link and also the form (now called CF38) as a pdf.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-security-abroad-ni38

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65a4e2117eb42e000dceb7ab/CF83.pdf

Curls2208

Great thanks all, so all I need to do is wait for 26/27 financial year, and then pay back a voluntary contribution. Seems easy enough. I don't think I can do it whilst the 25/26 Fiscal year is still active.