Born and lived UK, but didn't work

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EasilyConfused

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1
Hello

I was born in the UK to English and Irish parents, I lived there until I was 12 before we then moved back to Ireland.

Obviously I never worked in the UK because I was too young at the time, but I have been working in Ireland for the last 25 years.

I am only in my mid 40s but this UK pension bonanza has me wondering if I am entitled to buy into it?

Hopefully someone might be able to advise because all of the UK pension website makes my head spin

Thanks
 
First thing to do would be to check and see if you have a UK National Insurance number. If you have one, then it should be easy (but a slow process) to find out if any contributions have been made and then see from there.
 
EasilyConfused said:
I am only in my mid 40s but this UK pension bonanza has me wondering if I am entitled to buy into it?
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I’m about your age and worked in the UK for 10 months in my 20s.

I was automatically credited NI credits aged 16 and 17 which seems to have allowed me to qualify for voluntary Class 3 NICs.
 
You qualified because you had a job, not because of the age 16/17 credits. The OP doesn't have any employment in the UK.
 
Corola said:
You qualified because you had a job, not because of the age 16/17 credits. The OP doesn't have any employment in the UK.
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Not necessarily, other posters have reported similar scenarios.

I wouldn't put anyone off registering & seeing whats there first.
 
They should still try, but the form CF83 asks for details of your last UK employment which they don't have.
 
You need a National Insurance number to be on the system. It sounds like you don't have one. I've read they can be given automatically to children whose parents claimed UK Child Benefit, so it is worth making sure.

If you applied for one now, you could be awarded three years of starting credits. You might not even need those for Class 3 eligibility, since you have lived in the UK for three or more years. (Quote from website: "To pay Class 2 or Class 3 voluntary contributions you must have either previously lived in the UK for 3 years in a row [or] paid contributions or had Class 2 contributions treated as having been paid for at least 3 years")

You cannot apply for an NI number unless you live in the UK and intend to start working there. (Quote from website: "You can apply for a National Insurance number if you (1) live in the UK; (2) have the right to work in the UK; (3) are working, looking for work or have an offer to start work"). I don't know what this means in practice -- presumably more than a long weekend in Belfast is needed to qualify as living in the UK, but would a short term AirBnB rental of four weeks be enough?
 
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rollick said:
need a National Insurance number to be on the system. It sounds like you don't have one
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If the OP lived in UK till the age of 12, they most likely do have an NI number.

It's easy enough to find - details are in the Key Post.

Post links rather than cut 'n' paste.
 
Dr Strangelove said:
I’m about your age and worked in the UK for 10 months in my 20s.

I was automatically credited NI credits aged 16 and 17 which seems to have allowed me to qualify for voluntary Class 3 NICs.
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Did you also live in the UK for 3 years or more ?
 
Dr Strangelove said:
All UK and Irish citizens have the unlimited right to work in the UK.
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All three requirements need to be met. The one about UK residency is of most relevance, if the OP has not already been allocated an NI number.

DannyBoyD said:
If the OP lived in UK till the age of 12, they most likely do have an NI number.

It's easy enough to find - details are in the Key Post.
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They didn't mention having it, so it sounded like they weren't aware of one being given, even if it had been allocated automatically at some point. Regardless of likelihood, the OP should still check this first as per the Key Post.

DannyBoyD said:
Post links rather than cut 'n' paste.
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I'm restricted from adding links because of my low post count, apologies. (I also have to wait two hours between posts). These should be ok as workarounds if pasted:

Class 2/3 eligibility info: gov.uk/government/publications/social-security-abroad-ni38/guidance-on-social-security-abroad-ni38
Applying for National Insurance number (if relevant): gov.uk/apply-national-insurance-number/how-to-apply
 
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Is there still time to sort this? I can't find my NI number from when I was in UK, not sure how long that takes to sort either
 
Fibbernacci said:
Is there still time to sort this? I can't find my NI number from when I was in UK, not sure how long that takes to sort either
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Key Post - UK State Pension - Make voluntary contributions to qualify for UK pension on top of Irish pension

Summary If you lived in the UK for at least three years and worked there for at least some of this time. You can make backdated contributions of National Insurance for up to 18 years which will cost you either £163 for each year purchased or £824 for each year purchased. The UK state pension...
www.askaboutmoney.com
Update: now extended to April 2025, but you should still apply immediately.
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