Key Post UK State Pension - Make voluntary contributions to qualify for UK pension on top of Irish pension

Hi All

Thanks for all the information provided in this thread. I recently received my letter from HMRC stating I can pay Class 2 contributions back to 2006 which is brilliant news as I only worked parttime during my student days in the North in the 90s and wasn't even sure I would qualify.

So I went on the website to see how I can make payments and found the IBAN details as mentioned elsewhere in this thread. What has thrown me is the section below which states that "There’s a different way to pay Class 2 National Insurance if you live or work abroad permanently" which applies to me (and most people in this thread I suspect). I clicked on the link and all it does is bring you to information on applying to pay voluntary contributions which I have already done.

I am confused, does anyone know what the "different" way of paying is? It is going to cost me about €3500 to make up the 18 years of contributions so I want to ensure that I am doing this right.

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redchariot said:
Hi All

Thanks for all the information provided in this thread. I recently received my letter from HMRC stating I can pay Class 2 contributions back to 2006 which is brilliant news as I only worked parttime during my student days in the North in the 90s and wasn't even sure I would qualify.

So I went on the website to see how I can make payments and found the IBAN details as mentioned elsewhere in this thread. What has thrown me is the section below which states that "There’s a different way to pay Class 2 National Insurance if you live or work abroad permanently" which applies to me (and most people in this thread I suspect). I clicked on the link and all it does is bring you to information on applying to pay voluntary contributions which I have already done.

I am confused, does anyone know what the "different" way of paying is? It is going to cost me about €3500 to make up the 18 years of contributions so I want to ensure that I am doing this right.

View attachment 8965
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That is the A/C numbers I used. and it showed up the in my HMRC account about 8 weeks later.
Make sure in MESSAGE to Sender you put in your NI Number in the example they provide so NI number, IC, surname and initials all in one word so they can match it.
 
My Wife has 12 years of voluntary contributions she can pay but doesn't want to invest all the money at the moment, would rather pay about 5 or 6 years and then pay it annually, will still have plenty of time to get to over 35 years (its 25 years left currently).
ONe of the more recent years just needs £53.55 where as the olderst years are £163.80. IS ther eany way to pay a more recent year first? Is there a webchat or email or do we have to phone up to get info? I could only see phone numbers online.

Edit I rang up and she said they should do the lowest amounts first but if not I can ring up after and sort it.

Just didn't want to be to blame for my wife putting in a couple of grand and something changing in the next 20 years! unlikely brexit will be reversed or anytihng but it's a long time! At least if doing it annually we can just stop if something changed.
 
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Chrisofthewhite said:
My Wife has 12 years of voluntary contributions she can pay but doesn't want to invest all the money at the moment, would rather pay about 5 or 6 years and then pay it annually, will still have plenty of time to get to over 35 years (its 25 years left currently).
ONe of the more recent years just needs £53.55 where as the olderst years are £163.80. IS ther eany way to pay a more recent year first? Is there a webchat or email or do we have to phone up to get info? I could only see phone numbers online.

Edit I rang up and she said they should do the lowest amounts first but if not I can ring up after and sort it.

Just didn't want to be to blame for my wife putting in a couple of grand and something changing in the next 20 years! unlikely brexit will be reversed or anytihng but it's a long time! At least if doing it annually we can just stop if something changed.
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The 2023 to 2024 year has gone up £179.40 and is only going up, so the previous years £163.80 is cheap so if 16 years are on offer for £163.8 a years for £2620.8 that leaves 7 years to she has the full pension of 35 years (12 years + 16 years + 7 years) 7 years before increases @ £179.40 = £1255.80 give a total cost off £3876.60 for a pension of £221.20 Per Week (todays rate) or £11502.40 PA, Maybe you should look up a private pension costs for that amount and see how insanely cheap a UK state pension is. NOTE the 16 year buyback is only available till April 2025
 
Chrisofthewhite said:
My Wife has 12 years of voluntary contributions she can pay but doesn't want to invest all the money at the moment, would rather pay about 5 or 6 years and then pay it annually, will still have plenty of time to get to over 35 years (its 25 years left currently).
ONe of the more recent years just needs £53.55 where as the olderst years are £163.80. IS ther eany way to pay a more recent year first? Is there a webchat or email or do we have to phone up to get info? I could only see phone numbers online.

Edit I rang up and she said they should do the lowest amounts first but if not I can ring up after and sort it.

Just didn't want to be to blame for my wife putting in a couple of grand and something changing in the next 20 years! unlikely brexit will be reversed or anytihng but it's a long time! At least if doing it annually we can just stop if something changed.
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I get what you're saying, and there are risks involved no matter which decision you take. For example, the cold reality is that there are many making payments who don't live long enough to reap any rewards, so even buying 1 year is a risk in that sense.

I'm taking the view that I should pay as many years as I can now as there is a bigger risk (albeit still probably small) that voluntary or Class 2 contributions cease to be an option in the future, or they are priced at a level that makes future years much less affordable.

I've 20 years until I'm eligible to claim, and buying all available years now leaves me only needing to pay another 10 years.
 
Peckham said:
I get what you're saying, and there are risks involved no matter which decision you take. For example, the cold reality is that there are many making payments who don't live long enough to reap any rewards, so even buying 1 year is a risk in that sense.

I'm taking the view that I should pay as many years as I can now as there is a bigger risk (albeit still probably small) that voluntary or Class 2 contributions cease to be an option in the future, or they are priced at a level that makes future years much less affordable.

I've 20 years until I'm eligible to claim, and buying all available years now leaves me only needing to pay another 10 years.
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100% agree. Pay the maximum possible as early as possible. Get it done and forget about it.
Sure some people will not live long enough to reap the benefit but then they won’t miss it anyway.
 
DannyBoyD said:
Are you working in Ireland or have you already retired?
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I am working. Though not full time. Week on week off. I intend starting process this month
But I’d like to retire in a year or so.

Also I should add I’m already since 60 claiming a pension as I worked there for 4 years and was entitled to claim from 60.
I worked in education.
Will this cause a problem??
Can I have 2 pensions from there??

Apologies for late reply
 
I'm not following you at all.

What pension are you claiming? Neither UK nor Ireland pay a state pension at 60.

What do you mean by "2 pensions from there"?

Where is 'there'?

What two pensions do you believe you can claim?
 
Im claiming a pension from when I worked in England in education. For 4 years in the 80’s And could claim this from 60 years of age.
I’m claiming it for 2 years. It was a very simple profess

What I’m wondering is am I also able to apply for the state pension from England when the time comes if I top up my 4 years
In other words can I claim the state one as well as the teaching one

Thanks. Apologies for any confusion
 
Lets simplify this; if you still lived in the UK would you be able to claim the state pension at age 67?

No disrespect, but I can't imagine 4 years of contributions adds up to a large payment?
 
blanketyblank said:
Im claiming a pension from when I worked in England in education. For 4 years in the 80’s And could claim this from 60 years of age.
I’m claiming it for 2 years. It was a very simple profess

What I’m wondering is am I also able to apply for the state pension from England when the time comes if I top up my 4 years
In other words can I claim the state one as well as the teaching one

Thanks. Apologies for any confusion
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Only way to know is to contact them to get your forecast. Be mad not to find out.
 
Thanks I don’t expect to get a state pension for 4 years. My intention is to top up to 10 if it’s possible.
But my confusion is over the fact that I’m already getting my teachers pension and I’m not sure it would be allowed As partnership said. Worth a try
 
blanketyblank said:
Thanks I don’t expect to get a state pension for 4 years. My intention is to top up to 10 if it’s possible.
But my confusion is over the fact that I’m already getting my teachers pension and I’m not sure it would be allowed As partnership said. Worth a try
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I had 10 years of Local Govt service in UK from 1984-95, so I got a Local Govt pension from 60. I am also going to top up my UK State Pension to 35 years, I can draw that when I am 66 and 9 months in 2027.
So yes, you can have 2 pensions. Talk to DWP in Newcastle and they can confirm where you stand re your State Pension.
 
Yam1960 said:
I had 10 years of Local Govt service in UK from 1984-95, so I got a Local Govt pension from 60. I am also going to top up my UK State Pension to 35 years, I can draw that when I am 66 and 9 months in 2027.
So yes, you can have 2 pensions. Talk to DWP in Newcastle and they can confirm where you stand re your State Pension.
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Thanks very much for that
 
blanketyblank said:
Thanks I don’t expect to get a state pension for 4 years. My intention is to top up to 10 if it’s possible.
But my confusion is over the fact that I’m already getting my teachers pension and I’m not sure it would be allowed As partnership said. Worth a try
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I only worked for 4 years in the UK and just bought back 17 years and will pay for the next 7 years and will get over £200 per week
 
Hi, I was self employed for 3 years in the UK around 2008 and I applied for this. I got a letter back stating that I did not meet part of the regulation that requires the person is gainfully employed outside the United Kingdom (either on a elf employed basis or as an employee).

I am in full time employment in Ireland, and have been for many years. Any idea what they are looking for here, should i just send them my last few pay slips? or is it gainful employment immediately following my departure from the UK? Thanks.
 
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