paid top up contribution but still not allocated

78weekswaiting

I need some help and advice on what to do next. It is now 78 weeks since I paid the voluntary contribution amount and it still has not been allocated. I have phone regularly - only once could I not get through - each time the customer service personnel made an urgent referral for allocation to be processed. I have made a compliant using the information on the HMRC website with no response. What do I do next ... I have contacted the pensions ombudsman but they said they do not help with state pension. Do I now go direct to the parliamentary and health service ombudsman? Has anyone experienced a similar situation?

QrizB

You could write to your MP? That sometimes gets results.

Silvertabby

When do you (or did you) reach SPA?

78weekswaiting

Thank you QrizB - I have already done this but have been told I need to follow procedures through.  Whatever that means.
And silvertabby - I still have another two years before I reach SPA - but as I paid over 78 weeks ago, when my pension is due surely does not matter. The money is in their account. 

squirrelpie

78weekswaiting said:

Thank you QrizB - I have already done this but have been told I need to follow procedures through.  Whatever that means.

If that was the reply from your MP, then I suggest you write back to your MP and explain that you do not understand what is meant, and ask them to explain in detail what procedures you should follow.

Silvertabby

78weekswaiting said:

Thank you QrizB - I have already done this but have been told I need to follow procedures through.  Whatever that means.
And silvertabby - I still have another two years before I reach SPA - but as I paid over 78 weeks ago, when my pension is due surely does not matter. The money is in their account. 

I expect that their priorities will be those nearly at State pension age, then those who have already passed SPA and who are waiting for their pensions to be increased.

I know it's annoying, but they will still be working through a huge backlog. 

Andando

To add context to this post I applied to pay voluntary NI years in December 2024 via an online form CF83 to HMRC.

As I had already reached state pension age my application was passed to the International Pension Centre. Aware of the backlog and delays in dealing with all things NI and pensions I followed the general advice that my application could take up to 3 months to be actioned. At the 3 month point I made a phone call asking for an update and was told about the backlog and to wait.

Within a few days I received an email saying that i could pay the years that were not full at class 3 rates but if I wished to be considered for class 2 rates due my working while living in Spain I could submit the vida laboral - the Spanish record of my working life in Spain. Given that the CF83 was to determine my eligibility for periods of class 2 and 3 payments I submitted the vida laboral on the same day as receiving the email (March 19th 2025) and waited.

I received an email on September 3rd outlining my options to pay for up to 10 years at various rates of class 2 and class 3. I spoke to the pensions officer the same day and paid by bank transfer using revolut and emailed the form she provided (IPC117) to her detailing the years I wished to pay and the amounts for each year. The form was forwarded by the IPC to HMRC the following morning September 4th.

On October 17th I received a letter from HMRC dated 29th September asking which years I wished them to allocate the payment that they had received. I spoke to HMRC by telephone and explained verbally which years I wanted and expected to have the payment allocated quickly given that I was considered a priority case (in the words of the person I spoke to*) as I was already receiving my State Pension. I made further phone calls in November and December enquiring when I was likely to get the payments applied to the years and both times I was told that my case had been marked as an urgent referral but they were unable to give me a timescale although during the December call I was assured that by placing a note to the case along with the urgent referral he expected that it would be action by an International case worker within a month.

On Friday Feb 6th i again spoke to HMRC by telephone to ask for an update and was told that my account shows urgent referrals against my October, November and December calls but no indication of when the case would be actioned. I asked how to proceed with a complaint and was told i could only do it in writing to the international caseworkers. I am loathe to waste time in writing to the people who are unable to action my case and give them a further workload to add to their problems. As I have been unable to get my payment allocated and my pension payment updated I have made an official complaint using the HMRC online complaint form, this was acknowledged and by checking the when can I expect a response link I got the following message - 'Please do not contact us until after 28 April 2026.'

I am unsure what to do next.

meishka

This wont help you but my husband paid vol class 2 in Nov. Chased in Feb and they eventually found it but couldnt allocate it as yet?? She said it may take up to a year…………….we are beyond speechless!