"I am 50 should, I make Class 3 contributions to UK pension?"

I have completed the form and it's gone in post, rather than being told I missed out, but also uncertain if I qualify for anything....

1997 - 2001 Worked first job in UK for 4 years
2001 - 2011 I call my James Bond period - I left UK, wasn't resident anywhere. Offshore for more than 6 months of year, other months spent travelling or visiting back home (Ireland)
2011 to current date Full time employment in Ireland.

So am I eligible? How many years can I back pay as Class 2/3?

Thanks. Once I get a response to the letter, I will of course read the huge amount of posts to these threads, but for now, a simple, yes/no would be great!
 
If you worked for 3 years or more then you are eligible. They gave everyone an extra 3 years, so you could already have 7 years.

You need 10 years to qualify for the minimum 10/35th of the weekly payment.

If you didn't work immediately after leaving the UK you'll probably be looking at Class 3 so it'll cost £824.20 to buy back each extra year.

You can buy as many years as you can afford from 2006-2007 onwards to the present day.

So my own limited experience of the process, it's a YES from me.
 
Hi there, I worked in UK for 4 years in the 1990s.

Kenneth what do you mean 'They gave everyone an extra 3 years, so you could already have 7 years'

.I worked iabroad thereafter I am sending the form off this week to see what I qualify for.

Can I ask if anyone knows if i would qualify for class 2 or Class 3. Obviously there are significant contribution differences and both appear to be worth pursuing.

Thanks
 
Thanks DannyBoyD. I see that there is a deadline!

Also, do you know if it is possible to add social security contributions from the Channel Islands also?
 
I got told I was only eligible for Class 3 as I only had juvenile credits and hardly any NI paid from my student jobs etc. With the deadline fast approaching I won't argue. Class 3 is still a great deal. 824 pounds a year in exchange for 957 pounds a month (or let's say 700 since unlikely to live 35 years from pension age)

I the retirement plan I think there is huge value in not having to allocate funds for unknown number of years from age 68 or whatever. This will give me confidence to retire earlier and have more go-go years.
 
It looks like I have 3 years juenile (born in UK / lived there for 10 years)
+ 4 full years working (2 years and 2 years)
+ 4 months state maternity pay. (claimed child benefit in UK for 6 months)

I have applied for my National insurance Number as I can't locate it. Lovely lady at their office says It will take 2 weeks - i sent letter registered post.

I then will complete pension application before 5th April deadline.

I am hoping to backdate contribution and hoping I qualify to Class 2 naturally but happy with Class 3 also.

Does anyone know if there is an increase in contribution I can make for my husband?

We live abroad now and this will continue to be the case permanently.

Thanks in advance. These forums have been so useful.
 
So the "free" years for 16/17 year old's don't count for this? (pre 2010 I think)

Also mixed reports about having to have worked "immediately" in Ireland (as opposed to before leaving UK)

It seemed from a lot of accounts here that years not working abroad would be class 3 and years working would be class 2 and even some peoples statements matched exactly what they reported in this regard
 
Do you only get 3 additional years if you lived there aged 16/17?

I lived in the UK from birth until 1987 - so was hoping I might avail of those 'free' years? I had heard that they appied to anyone born up to 1992.
 
If you make a UK gov Gateway account you can go online and look up your National Insurance record in the UK. You need to upload a pic of your passport at some point in the process.
 
Maryoblige said:
Do you only get 3 additional years if you lived there aged 16/17?

I lived in the UK from birth until 1987 - so was hoping I might avail of those 'free' years?
Click to expand...
There is no requirement to have lived in the UK to receive those 3 juvenile years. I was amazed to see that I had 6 rather than 3 years credited to my NI record. I did not live in the UK at aged 16.17, or 18 but I was still granted them. Check your NI record on the HMRC site. You might be pleasantly surprised!
 

Is this the relevant statement under the forecast? Thought mine was more like 2 TBH

"You currently have 4 years on your record and you need at least 10 years to get any State Pension"
 
HMRC Forum

"Until 5 April 2010, to protect the National Insurance(NI) records of students who stayed in full time education for tax years commencing on or after 6 April 1975, regulation 4 (of the Social Security Regulations 1975) allowed a customer to be credited with Class 3 NICs, which count for State Pension purposes.
These starting credits (Juvenile credits) could be awarded for the full three tax years containing their 16th, 17th and 18th birthdays, whether or not the young person was in full time education, and were automatically recorded on the National Insurance and PAYE Service(NPS) account.
This will then be reflected through your Personal Tax Account when you view your NI record. However, the conditions for these credits are that you must have been resident in UK at the time the credits are awarded and registered for a UK NI account.
If you come from abroad and your Date of Entry into the UK scheme falls after these years, there will be a Flag set on the system to allow the “discounting” of these credits and have them removed.
The Personal Tax Account view of your NI record may still reflect these credits until they have actually been removed.
The address to write to for specific confirmation is:
Individual Caseworker, PT Operations North East England. BX9 1AN
Thank you."
 
This is not good news for many posters on here who have been credited with these juvenile years. It is not surprising though and means that we would need to buy more years to qualify for the minimum UK state pension.
 
I agree it is a really good deal and I like many others never thought we would qualify .The added "juvenile" years were a bonus which will now be taken away, which is not good news. The "bonanza" is still there for the purchasing for those who qualify, it will just cost a little extra.
 
It seems to be valid for those who were there or worked pre 2010, but maybe Class 3
 
Last edited:
@Threadser
I'm not sure the starter credits is bad news for too many.
see reply from HMRC Admin 25 to this post on the HMRC Nat Ins forum:
https://community.hmrc.gov.uk/custo...48c5fd92#6d5219f4-2e0c-ee11-8f6d-6045bd12787b

I think that, If you were in UK with a NI number sometime between 1975 and 2010, you may be OK. You may need to have been aged 16 between these years as well.
I have asked a specific question on the HMRC forum and i will advise if i get an answer. (they do not seem too keen on specific questions)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register