Not Getting as Much State Pension as Expected

Smasher1959

I checked my pension several times during the run up to receiving it and was told it was fully paid up and no top up was necessary. On receiving it in November I found it was around £30 less than expected because "In the past you paid into a workplace pension instead of the Additional State Pension". this is called being contracted out. I dont even remember ever doing that. I gather that there has been a legal case brought against the HMRC for the very same issue which was successful. Does anyone know how to find out when my "misdemeanour" occurred. I would have happily topped up before my 66th birthday and now feel totally cheated by the system.

DE_612183

You probably opted out and that may have another pension somewhere - my wife did the same and she has a Pru one which more than makes up the difference…

eskbanker

Do you have saved copies of your forecasts?

molerat

As above have you got any copies of forecasts ? Did you just look at the big green box or did you read the text below that which would have clearly stated if you needed to do anything further to reach that amount ?

DRS1

Can you tell us more about this legal case you mention?

molerat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81888504#Comment_81888504

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/38203114/pension-error-hmrc-tool-affected/

Mentions an ombudsman / tribunal case.

I had to laugh at this bit

After checking her forecast in 2015, Mrs Cole, a self-employed finance expert,

DRS1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81888514#Comment_81888514

Thanks. Interesting that it doesn't actually say she won those claims.

molerat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81888524#Comment_81888524

But it states HMRC paid her top ups back plus a small amount of compo

Smasher1959

I did check the comments and it said I did not but I dont have proof of this. No I dont have saved copies which Im sure is a mistake.

Also https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/7195ec2eab1bce28

Smasher1959

And just add I did check because MSE advised me too - otherwise I would not have done it - I was just relieved that my forecast said I would get the full amount!

p00hsticks

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81888546#Comment_81888546

Are you 100% sure that it did not actually say that you would receive the full amount as the headline, but then underneath stated that for this to be the case you would need to continue making NI contributions for another x number of years ?

When did you reach State Pension Age and were you working immediately prior to that ? If you only reached SPA recently but retired a few years prior to that then the option to buy additional years to increase the amount might still be availabel to you, although it;s more long winded now that you are past SPA.