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

Really great info on this thread...thanks to all the contributors!

I worked in the UK from 2012 to 2016. I paid all outstanding Class 2 contributions from 2016 to 2022/2023 via bank transfer. I need to contribute going forward until I'm 66 in 2053. My question is how do I do this? Will they accept a direct debit or can I request to be billed annually? Apologies if the answer to this is really obvious!
 
galgal5003 said:
Really great info on this thread...thanks to all the contributors!

I worked in the UK from 2012 to 2016. I paid all outstanding Class 2 contributions from 2016 to 2022/2023 via bank transfer. I need to contribute going forward until I'm 66 in 2053. My question is how do I do this? Will they accept a direct debit or can I request to be billed annually? Apologies if the answer to this is really obvious!
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I just reread DannyBoyD's original post and see that it clearly states that direct debits can't be set up from Irish bank accounts. That's clear now but any advice on how to pay / know how much to pay annually or regular intervals would be great.
One bonus question: how do you confirm with HMRC that payment had been received? Is it doable via the Gateway portal?
 
galgal5003 said:
I just reread DannyBoyD's original post and see that it clearly states that direct debits can't be set up from Irish bank accounts. That's clear now but any advice on how to pay / know how much to pay annually or regular intervals would be great.
One bonus question: how do you confirm with HMRC that payment had been received? Is it doable via the Gateway portal?
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If you are able to access your projected future pension on line it will show which tax years have been paid. Both my wife and I paid by bank transfer from a sterling bank account for tax year 2022 to 2023. Her account was updated within about 6 weeks. Mine took about 8 months and because of the discrepancy I phoned multiple times to chase it up. In hindsight I don’t think the calls made any difference…I just needed to be patient.
 
Kev1964 said:
If you are able to access your projected future pension on line it will show which tax years have been paid. Both my wife and I paid by bank transfer from a sterling bank account for tax year 2022 to 2023. Her account was updated within about 6 weeks. Mine took about 8 months and because of the discrepancy I phoned multiple times to chase it up. In hindsight I don’t think the calls made any difference…I just needed to be patient.
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Thanks, I am able to see it online now. It was less than one month ago that I made the payment so I'm impressed given how slow everything related to this process has been until now.
 
I submitted my forms end of February 2023. The status in the portal is showing 'Completed' for at least two weeks. No letter received yet. When I get to view the gaps in my pension contribution, it is showing 824 Pounds - i.e. Class 3, while I think it should be Class 2.

What does that tell me? Am I still getting a letter to confirm if I'm Class 2 or 3?
 
tom1220 said:
I submitted my forms end of February 2023. The status in the portal is showing 'Completed' for at least two weeks. No letter received yet. When I get to view the gaps in my pension contribution, it is showing 824 Pounds - i.e. Class 3, while I think it should be Class 2.

What does that tell me? Am I still getting a letter to confirm if I'm Class 2 or 3?
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The system appears to default to Class 3 - it will update to Class 2 if your submission is accepted.

Although they are slow - 12 months is a lot longer than I would have expected for you to get something back; in this instance a phone call might be a good idea.

If you get a letter saying Class 3 and you believe you fulfil the conditions for Class 2, put in an appeal with as much supporting paperwork as you can.
 
Processing seems to have ground to a standstill. I took the first screeshot on 8 Jan and the second today.
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Theres a month in the difference - wouldn't be too concerned about that.

In any event, all that matters is that you have it registered before the deadline.
 
dvpower said:
Processing seems to have ground to a standstill. I took the first screeshot on 8 Jan and the second today.
View attachment 8397
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Above date are approximate . My form was received by hmrc on 14/3/23 and has been at ‘in progress ‘ status until the weekend just passed when it changed to ‘completed’ . Judging by responses above it takes about 2 further weeks to receive letter, so still waiting… I’d think the process is slow at present because there probably were large volumes of forms arriving into HMRC in advance of the then April 2023 deadline .
 
AJ1 said:
Did your letter list all the years you can pay back as far as 2006?
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It lists all the years that I can pay back (and that I expected). But as I moved away from the UK in 2016, it is obviously a shorter list.
 
A big thank you to @DannyBoyD and everyone else for the wonderful information and advice. I sent my application/form CF 83 with a detailed covering letter on all my employments and self-employments at the end of March ‘23. Happily my HMRC letter arrived today allowing me to buy back 17 years at class 2. I worked in the UK for a little under 3 years and thought I wouldn’t qualify but I did! It’s going to make such a huge difference to have this pension and I would never have even thought it was possible until I saw it here. @DannyBoyD is going have such a positive impact on so many lives just for starting this thread. Thank you again!
 
very good Calmsea . I also received my letter today . For the benefit of others waiting , my form was received into HMRC on 14/3/23. The status changed from in progress to completed at end of Jan 2024. The letter is dated 30/1/24 so about a two week lag time .
Bit of a mixed bag for me . I got Class 2 from 2016 to now and class 3 for previous 10 years . By way of background I was born and brought up in Northern Ireland and was working in Northern Ireland prior to getting job in ROI in 2005. I had the required 3 years NI contributions plus 3 credit years . I then commuted cross border until 2016 , at which point I moved permanently to live in ROI. I paid PRSI all this time. Country of residence appears to be the issue? Anybody in similar circumstances appeal this or could shed some insight.
In meantime thanks to all contributors here for getting to this point
 
Same here. Got my letter today having sent my form off in March 23. Approved for Class 2. I’ve 20 years contributions and 8 years to go to retirement. That leaves me with 7 years to backdate. My question is would there be any point in paying more than 35 years? For example if they were to increase the qualification period above 35 years contributions in the next few years. I know that no one can predict the future but would it be an idea to pay for 40 years as a hedge against such an event? By the way many thanks to DannyBoy & all other contributors - invaluable information and advice here. I’m immensely grateful.
 
Hi there , thanks for all the great advice . My husband and I both applied March last year 23 . He got a reply today to pay Class 3 though was sure it would be Class 2 as has 14 qualifying years , worked immediately before leaving Uk and started work in Ireland , still working now . Just wondering how we appeal ? Does he need to fill in a new form and include a letter ? Thank you
 
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