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

ArthurMcB said:
Lets just hope the rules dont change in the future and we re all left high and dry with voluntary contributions paid in between
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Again, I will repeat.

Whilst none of us can predict the future; we have to make decisions based on what we believe to be the most likely outcome.

In this instance, whilst the scheme may be closed to future applicants; I do not believe anyone currently paying contributions will be removed.
 
ArthurMcB said:
Lets just hope the rules dont change in the future and we re all left high and dry with voluntary contributions paid in between
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Obviously that is a potential (but I believe small) risk and each of us has to decide for ourselves if we're willing to take that risk! For me the spin I'll put on the worst case scenario is that I've contributed towards my parents and sister's (and family) UK pensions. Best case....incredible return on investment and much more comfortable retirement!
 
etjo17 said:
HI All,
I wanted to post to say a huge THANK YOU for all the excellent info here! I stumbled across this forum I can't even remember how but after reading all the posts, put in my application and received a letter yesterday that I've been approved for class 2 contributions!!

I had looked into this in the past briefly and dismissed it when I'd seen something about it elsewhere and thought I wasn't eligible as I was self-employed or in full time education for a lot of my time in the UK so had patchy NI contributions (I was born in Scotland and moved to Ireland when I was 27). But with the info from here, I checked my NI contributions, saw I had 3 years full credits from age 16-19 whilst still in school and therefore met eligibility to apply. I still wasn't sure if I would get class 2 as my final year (2006-7) in Scotland when I was working full time was made up from part time self-employment and part-time employment and I've long since shredded my tax returns from then so didn't have supporting docs to send. I've been working for the HSE consistently since I moved here so that was straight forward at least!

Nevertheless, I pulled together my application explaining my circumstances and submitted it online on 3/9/24. Letter received yesterday dated 16/9/24 which was much quicker than I expected (the how long before I get a reply tool on gov.uk said it would be November).

I'm so delighted and even tho I've a good 20 years until retirement, it puts a whole different slant on my retirement planning!

Many many thanks again to all who have pulled together and posted all the information on this (and answered the numerous questions along the way). I found the 1st posts by DannyBoy a great how to guide.

For anyone wondering if they should bother, do it!! It's pretty straight forward and doesn't even cost the price of a stamp with the online application now!
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Great to hear. I was like you and only realised recently I might be successful. I am right at the beginning of the process. I have read all the posts and feeling nervous but positive. Only worked 2 years but over 3 tax years. Waiting for my NI number to be posted to me. Spoke to a lovely lady on Monday so should be here in 10 days.

Just on the online did you provide any proof or support or just add in each employment as per the online fields.
 
magscollins said:
Great to hear. I was like you and only realised recently I might be successful. I am right at the beginning of the process. I have read all the posts and feeling nervous but positive. Only worked 2 years but over 3 tax years. Waiting for my NI number to be posted to me. Spoke to a lovely lady on Monday so should be here in 10 days.

Just on the online did you provide any proof or support or just add in each employment as per the online fields.
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I just filled in each employment and self employment as per the fields. I didn't send any supporting documents but there is a box where you can add any additional info you want them to know so I just explained about my part time self employment/part time employment just before I left Scotland and that I have been working full time here since.
 
etjo17 said:
I just filled in each employment and self employment as per the fields. I didn't send any supporting documents but there is a box where you can add any additional info you want them to know so I just explained about my part time self employment/part time employment just before I left Scotland and that I have been working full time here since.
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Thank you that was exactly what I was wondering. Will add in additional info into that box.
 
Folks - this thread is to help people apply for & pay voluntary NICs for UK state pension.

Feel free to start your own thread if you want a debate.

It wont be happening here.
 
DannyBoyD said:
Absolutely don't pay anyone!

You don't need to pay NI contributions just yet until they come back to you.
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I’ve a complicated case - worked in Channel Islands . Have JY social security number and NINO . Is it worth paying somebody to process for me. Provision under reciprocal agreements
 
I’m now at the stage where I just pay my NICS annually having “caught up” from 2006, two years ago. I have three years to go until I have the full 35 years paid.

For the most recent tax year (2023 to 2024) I received my annual demand by post and paid my NIC by bank transfer …on 5th May 2024.

My pension forecast has finally updated this morning, almost 5 months later.
 
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So, I paid almost 5 months ago too but forecast is still not updated. They have said it was received but not yet updated. However my pension started earlier last month on the old rate. They said they would pay any backmoney due once the forecast has been updated by HMRC. I will follow that up with HMRC again now. I am still not overly concerned and trust they will get to me eventually.
 
Thanks to all on here applied online on 11th Sept, Got a letter back on the 26th saying I've qualified for 11 years class 2.
Have 15 full years on the national insurance record. My record also says i only need 32 years to qualify for full pension, don't know why its not 35!?
Any else have less than 35 to do?
 
delg said:
Thanks to all on here applied online on 11th Sept, Got a letter back on the 26th saying I've qualified for 11 years class 2.
Have 15 full years on the national insurance record. My record also says i only need 32 years to qualify for full pension, don't know why its not 35!?
Any else have less than 35 to do?
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Mine was only 31 years. I've heard of people achieving it with 29, and others needing 40.

The old state pension was complicated, and depended on being contracted in or out of it, and how much you were earning. For example, my figure, even with 31 years, is about £8 higher per week, than the new state pension.

The new state pension , introduced in 2016, is a lot simpler. 35 years = full pension.

Unless you were born AFTER the year 2000, you will be on a hybrid of the two schemes.
 
Stitcher said:
So, I paid almost 5 months ago too but forecast is still not updated. They have said it was received but not yet updated. However my pension started earlier last month on the old rate. They said they would pay any backmoney due once the forecast has been updated by HMRC. I will follow that up with HMRC again now. I am still not overly concerned and trust they will get to me eventually.
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Hi can I ask, I got a letter saying I qualify to pay Class 2, I have about 10years full Nayionak insurance years paid. do I just send them a cheque now or transfer or do I have to contact the pensions department for other information?
 
Stitcher said:
There should be clear instructions in the letter you got, along with the dates the payment is due.
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Okay great just wanted to check did you contact the pensions department before hand. Thanks will have a read of it again.
 
Noreen8 said:
Okay great just wanted to check did you contact the pensions department before hand. Thanks will have a read of it again.
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I phoned them before transferring the money to tell them the sterling amount I would be sending and what years it was to be set against.

It took about about 5 months for the online record to show the years as paid in full.
 
I sent the money via bank transfer. I contacted them a few weeks later to see if it had gone through and it did. Others find revolut very easy to transfer the money.
 
Thanks to all for the help with this. Only for info - I completed the CF83 and sent in October 2023. I got confirmation of class 2 for the missing years in May. I made a full payment at the end of May and followed up today as it is not yet shown as allocated. According to the advisor (very pleasant) - the current backlog for EU payments to be allocated is 45 weeks! She did acknowledge receipt of my payment and said that once I had paid, the deadline no longer applied. We will see ....
 
I would also like to thank everyone for their contributions, especially the OP.

A relative of mine, approaching retirement, had lived in the UK several years as a child and worked there for less than a year as an adult. They didn't know their NI number, so I brought them through the whole process, mostly out of curiosity. Neither of us expected anything to come of it.

We found four years of credited contributions on record, and submitted the CF83 form online in mid-August of this year. By the end of September they got a letter of eligibility to buy back to 2006 at the Class 2 rate. That, plus the next couple of years, should bring them to at least two thirds of the annual UK pension by the time they hit retirement age, for less than £4k total cost.
 
Was wondering did anyone have the same issue as me. When I add up my years contributions I have twelve years but the hmrc calculator says I have 21 years more contributions to make the 35. Also the figure of my current pension is 92.50 sterling approx which equates to between 14-15 years. As I will be using my UK contributions toward my 40 Irish year pension it would be good to know how many years I actually have. Was curious did anyone else have this. Where the figures don’t add up? Thanks
 
SashaGG said:
Was wondering did anyone have the same issue as me. When I add up my years contributions I have twelve years but the hmrc calculator says I have 21 years more contributions to make the 35. Also the figure of my current pension is 92.50 sterling approx which equates to between 14-15 years. As I will be using my UK contributions toward my 40 Irish year pension it would be good to know how many years I actually have. Was curious did anyone else have this. Where the figures don’t add up? Thanks
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Not sure what you mean by using uk contributions for Irish pension. They are taken into account in terms of qualifying . you don't just add them together to get a full pension, there is a formula.
 
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