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

Spider 9 said:
Hi
I was turned down for class 2 and asked if I wish to apply for class 3 instead unsure if the suggestion was I would get class 3. Yes got NI number for week in UK 1987. Yes paying NICs all the time. Was self-employed ie SC60s first eight Years and accounts submitted each year and PAYE final 2 years. Luckily I have all past uk employers details & dates, all past uk living addresses with dates, some tax receipts, PAYE P45 and P 60.. I will just throw the kitchen sink at it I.e paperwork
Spider
Click to expand...
An appeal sounds worthwhile as the cost difference is significant. I didn’t do this so can’t offer a advice.

This is just an idea but in your original application did you include the words “I worked up until the point that I left the UK”. With the volume of cases being processed I wouldn’t be surprised if the admin teams are under pressure to work through the backlog and may just accep that statement without verification.
 
Loads of attempts at the Gateway no mention of proof outside UK documents, I am going through Gateway but is there another way I am missing. I have Gateway app . Am I missing something here

Yes did include worked on a Friday last day on last day on p45 and p 60 as proof and left on a Sunday same weekend. Strange thing tho when I rang uk NIC people and separately work and Pensions people looking at their computer they couldn't understand why I was rejected. I really need an online access to sort this out rather then six months between correspondence. I am replying CF83 but I thing online would be more productive. MaybevI am unlucky with my caseworker.
Spider
 
I see my account has been updated to say completed, but there no messages or any info on class2 or 3 or rejection?
I provided a letter with details and stated my case with my Ireland address, I put my last UK address in the CF83, as I understood that was correct, perhaps that was not correct?

How do they contact you?
 
My account has also been updated in the last few days to 'Completed' with a likely response dated indicated as 10 February (I submitted CF83 for change from Class 3 to 2 last April) - I am a bit worried that my record still shows payments around the £800 mark for each year indicating that my record is still at Class 3 - though hopefully this will have changed by the time I get the response.
 
ctlsleh said:
I see my account has been updated to say completed, but there no messages or any info on class2 or 3 or rejection?
I provided a letter with details and stated my case with my Ireland address, I put my last UK address in the CF83, as I understood that was correct, perhaps that was not correct?

How do they contact you?
Click to expand...

My account changed from "in Progress" to "completed" in late December and I received letter confirming acceptance for Class 2 today.

However, after confirming that I can pay for 14 years additional NICs they state

"To find out if your state pension will increase after you've paid voluntary NICs, you must phone the Pension Service on 04 44 191218 3600.
Due to changes in the law, you need the pension service to confirm whether your state pension will increase if you pay any shortfall"

Does anyone know what that last para refers to? HMRC already stated that that by making additional contributions, my pension would increase, when I checked previous contributions made via their online service? What do "changes in the law" refer to?
 
Just received this letter this morning from HMRC.
Not sure if class 2 was accepted or reject ! Anyone receive the same ?
Also.. it states I have 3 Q yrs. I actually have 9 full yrs which is confirmed on the HMRC website.

I should qualify as I fit the criteria with work etc.
I checked the website but it still says class 3.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20240112_131030.jpg
    IMG_20240112_131030.jpg
    4.7 MB · Views: 289
Last edited:
Not that I can see. This is the back of the letter.
Can't make head nor tail of it.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20240112_130645.jpg
    IMG_20240112_130645.jpg
    4.7 MB · Views: 278
PoundMan said:
View attachment 8199

I'm guessing the Status will eventually change from 'Received' to 'In progress' when they actively start working on it. Still I'm glad to know they definitely received it as An Post never confirmed delivery despite the fact that I paid for tracking.
Click to expand...
Just an update folks, my status has now recently changed from 'RECEIVED' to 'IN PROGRESS' so that is a positive for me.
 
PC100 said:
My account changed from "in Progress" to "completed" in late December and I received letter confirming acceptance for Class 2 today.

However, after confirming that I can pay for 14 years additional NICs they state

"To find out if your state pension will increase after you've paid voluntary NICs, you must phone the Pension Service on 04 44 191218 3600.
Due to changes in the law, you need the pension service to confirm whether your state pension will increase if you pay any shortfall"

Does anyone know what that last para refers to? HMRC already stated that that by making additional contributions, my pension would increase, when I checked previous contributions made via their online service? What do "changes in the law" refer to?
Click to expand...

Further update, contacted number above (15 minutes on hold but very helpful) and they confirmed that I was entitled to the higher pension but because I was "Contracted out" for some of my time over there, I would need 37 rather than 35 contribution years to get maximum pension! Have 14 years from time there plus 17 years up to 22/23 I can purchase so just need to purchase next six years as they fall due!

Thank you to everyone for all the advice above, especially to @DannyBoyD for initial advice and subsequent posts
 
Last edited:
Another giant thank you to @DannyBoyD and others. After months of fretting that I had made mistakes on my form, received the happy news that entitled to pay the 17 years before now and ones going forward at Class 2. Now I just need to find that money by April '25!
I was so worried that I had marked "not ordinarily resident" on the form and was vague about when I last worked in the UK. I am a British citizen (newly also Irish though!) which I suspect made that aspect easier; it sure looks like they used my cover letter and the supporting docs from my life in Ireland I sent with that as the basis for allowing Class 2 rather than the form per se.
 
Another good news story here, I got my letter today and I can pay 17 years at class 2 to bring my 18 years up to a total of 35. Just in time for my retirement next year . I too had fretted about the 'not ordinarily resident' status.
Thanks everyone for their help and sharing their advice and stories.
 
Stitcher said:
Another good news story here, I got my letter today and I can pay 17 years at class 2 to bring my 18 years up to a total of 35. Just in time for my retirement next year . I too had fretted about the 'not ordinarily resident' status.
Thanks everyone for their help and sharing their advice and stories.
Click to expand...
Great news. Perhaps you’ll check back in next year when you start claiming so we can see that the magic works! :)
 
DannyBoyD said:
Great to get these updates! Well done!
Click to expand...
Good news also for me this week. I can pay 17 years of Class 2 contributions. This will increase my 9 years up to 26 with a further 3 years to pay. This will give me a final total of 29 years.
I have now successfully made the payment for the 17 years with Revolut without any problems.
Thanks for all the advice shared here. It made the application process a lot easier.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top