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

DannyBoyD said:
Post was written a good while back, the pension amount has changed since then.
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Each year purchased entitles you to an extra 1/35th of the UK State pension or an extra £185 a year.

it was this line that I thought should have been 275. the actual amount might have changed but I think the 185 implies that you are entitled to 1/52th for each year of contributions. Again I might have misinterpreted something so apologies if that is the case
 
If they are taking 6 months to process payments, would bank drafts expire? Or is there only a 6 month limit for cheques?
 
Queries777 said:
If they are taking 6 months to process payments, would bank drafts expire? Or is there only a 6 month limit for cheques?
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I would suspect they take the funds immediately. It's just that it takes time for your record to be updated.

Worth ringing them to confirm. I rang recently and they confirmed that the payment (made by bank transfer) was visible on my record, it just hadn't been allocated to the appropriate years yet.
 
On the bank's end, if they have confirmed that it hasnt been cashed, does this seem to be normal? i.e. they do not cash the draft until they get to the person in the queue for assigning allocations. Doing direct bank transfer might be different but i am not sure.
 
https:// inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/ money/pensions-and-retirement/government-means-test-state-pension- 3250991

Something to keep in mind. It's already happening in Australia. It's ok buying back the cheaper class 2 contributions but I would be very wary buying back the much more expensive class three ones as once money is paid, you won't get it back in event of future means testing. I had to break up the link as system won't let me post in full.
 
PoundMan said:
I sent three separate payments for 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24 using my GB sub-account within Wise. I decided to go with the IBAN (GB49 BARC 2020 4830 9447 93) for HMRC rather than the Sort Code (08 32 20) since my letter specifically said to use the 'Overseas Payments' method and directed me towards this section of the website:
https://www.gov.uk/pay-class-2-national-insurance/make-online-telephone-bank-transfer

I will keep an eye on it to see how long it takes to update and keep you guys posted.
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It has been eight weeks since I sent the payments, but my National Insurance record has not been updated and still shows gaps. I had set a reminder on my phone as the HMRC website said the following:

You do not need to contact HMRC to check your payment has been received.
It will appear on your National Insurance record. This can take up to 8 weeks.
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Any advice on how I can follow this up with HMRC? Is there a specific phone number I should call, for example?
 
PoundMan said:
It has been eight weeks since I sent the payments, but my National Insurance record has not been updated and still shows gaps. I had set a reminder on my phone as the HMRC website said the following:



Any advice on how I can follow this up with HMRC? Is there a specific phone number I should call, for example?
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I rang and they said it is taking 39 weeks to update. I paid in April and not updated. We have to trust it will be okay but it is hard not to worry.
 
As long as you have your proof of payment, I wouldn't stress too much.

Way back 40 pages ago, I recommended a paper file & keep hard copies of everything. Print off your annual payment confirmations and add those to your file.

Don't rely solely on email, your laptop, cloud, whatever.
 
My NI contributions have finally been backdated when I checked this morning. Paid mid March this year. Last checked mid August. Patience is a virtue .... I did not phone, email, etc - based on this thread I just left due process take place.
 
I paid in July and was starting to panic thinking it had gone astray… I shall hold off the panic for now…
 
Just checked mine and it is updated. Paid in April, June and Aug. Hubby's still not updated, his was paid in June and Aug.
 
I checked with UK HMRC in Tyneside just now on: +441912037010. I made a bank transfer on August 1st. They confirmed today that they have received the money, but it has not yet been allocated to specific years. They asked me which years I wanted the money allocated to. They said the next step (allocation of the money to years) takes up to 8 weeks from date of payment, and I am in a queue.
 
Hey all,

I applied for a reissue of my national insurance number over 4 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything. I worked in the UK in 2001. For anyone in the same boat that had to apply for their NI number, approximately how long did it take to come? I can't proceed with my pension application until I get it.

Thanks
 
I can't be exact tonight, but I think it was between 6 and 8 weeks for me. That was in the first half of last year.
 
Missbettieboo said:
Hey all,

I applied for a reissue of my national insurance number over 4 weeks ago and still haven't heard anything. I worked in the UK in 2001. For anyone in the same boat that had to apply for their NI number, approximately how long did it take to come? I can't proceed with my pension application until I get it.

Thanks
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if you don't get your NI number by say end October; post in the CF83 and include a letter that you have requested your NI number as you no longer have a record of it, and you will forward on receipt.
 
timbotim said:
Each year purchased entitles you to an extra 1/35th of the UK State pension or an extra £185 a year.

it was this line that I thought should have been 275. the actual amount might have changed but I think the 185 implies that you are entitled to 1/52th for each year of contributions. Again I might have misinterpreted something so apologies if that is the case
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Whats the response this? Dont thinkni saw anything. Seems an important question that may have gone unanswered.
 
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!
 
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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