Voluntary National Insurance contributions
#226
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2014
Location: Northern California
Posts: 53
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
I sent my CF83 form in March, requested to pay class 2 contributions, gave my UK bank details for direct debit, etc. Still no reply. No debits from my account, no direct debit instructions added, no changes to my NI profile on the website.
Should I call them to follow up? Is it normal to wait more than 2 months for a reply?
Should I call them to follow up? Is it normal to wait more than 2 months for a reply?
#227
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,211
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
Can someone advise whether a person who has lived overseas long term (in my case 33 years) is eligible to pay top up UK National Insurance contributions whilst working overseas, with the intention of one day returning?
I've just been onto the relevant website and this does seem to be possible, but I'm not sure of the technicalities.
I received my NI number when I was 16 and still living in England. However since then have only ever worked in short term casual positions whilst visiting relatives for extended stays. I'm now 50 and will be relying on Australian income streams for retirement, but eligibility for a UK bus pass/concession would be pleasant!
If anyone who is more familiar with the regulations could give me a broad yes/no answer I'd be very grateful - I can then enquire further if there is a possibility of being able to do this. Many thanks.
I've just been onto the relevant website and this does seem to be possible, but I'm not sure of the technicalities.
I received my NI number when I was 16 and still living in England. However since then have only ever worked in short term casual positions whilst visiting relatives for extended stays. I'm now 50 and will be relying on Australian income streams for retirement, but eligibility for a UK bus pass/concession would be pleasant!
If anyone who is more familiar with the regulations could give me a broad yes/no answer I'd be very grateful - I can then enquire further if there is a possibility of being able to do this. Many thanks.
Hi a month ago I asked for a statement of my contributions which I duly received, the first department I spoke to at DWP were really helpful and explained my options but to ask for a statement so that I could then make a decision. I did not know this but while I was a stay at home mother for 4 years my "stamp" was paid for which added to my "years". I lived in Australia for a number of years and did not contribute to my UK NI as I thought we would never return. I now can make up the deficit with working or I can make voluntary contributions for the "missing years" but the advice was to just work and then I would have the full contributions upon retirement age.
#228
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 9
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
After waiting for about 3 months, I finally received two letters in response to the CF83 form.
The letter from HMRC says that my application to pay Class 2 contribution has been accepted and references an attached shortfall table for further details about contribution amounts and time limits. However, there is no attached table. It looks like they forgot to send it. I called them again to follow up and they promised to send me the attachment separately.
I also received a separate letter from the National Ins Contributions office confirming that a direct debit was set up. There is a table that details the amounts that will be withdrawn from my bank account for this year's contributions, separate columns for paying Class 2 and Class 3 contributions. This letter doesn't specify which class of contribution I will be paying.
Question: does anybody know how to pay contribution shortfalls? Can I just pay online or call the National Insurance hotline and pay over the phone?
#229
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,128
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
We did this the other week for my wife. You will receive a letter with the amount to pay and it will contain a long reference number to be used when paying. It will also provide their sort code and account number. When I came to pay from our bank, HSBC, I looked up existing payees, which includes water authorities, councils etc, and found the exact sort code and account number on the letter. I did spend a minute or so double checking that I had typed in the long reference number correctly. A week later we logged onto my wife's account and checked her NI history, and that payment was reflected in her NI contributions history.
#230
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 9
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
You can pay online.
We did this the other week for my wife. You will receive a letter with the amount to pay and it will contain a long reference number to be used when paying. It will also provide their sort code and account number. When I came to pay from our bank, HSBC, I looked up existing payees, which includes water authorities, councils etc, and found the exact sort code and account number on the letter. I did spend a minute or so double checking that I had typed in the long reference number correctly. A week later we logged onto my wife's account and checked her NI history, and that payment was reflected in her NI contributions history.
We did this the other week for my wife. You will receive a letter with the amount to pay and it will contain a long reference number to be used when paying. It will also provide their sort code and account number. When I came to pay from our bank, HSBC, I looked up existing payees, which includes water authorities, councils etc, and found the exact sort code and account number on the letter. I did spend a minute or so double checking that I had typed in the long reference number correctly. A week later we logged onto my wife's account and checked her NI history, and that payment was reflected in her NI contributions history.
#231
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Eee Bah Gum
Posts: 4,128
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
After the phone call we then received the letter with the invoice and instructions on how to pay - at a post office, online, etc.
Years ago I did mine from the USA and they are quite happy to post the letters and instructions to your overseas address.
#232
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 2,054
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
You can pay online.
We did this the other week for my wife. You will receive a letter with the amount to pay and it will contain a long reference number to be used when paying. It will also provide their sort code and account number. When I came to pay from our bank, HSBC, I looked up existing payees, which includes water authorities, councils etc, and found the exact sort code and account number on the letter. I did spend a minute or so double checking that I had typed in the long reference number correctly. A week later we logged onto my wife's account and checked her NI history, and that payment was reflected in her NI contributions history.
We did this the other week for my wife. You will receive a letter with the amount to pay and it will contain a long reference number to be used when paying. It will also provide their sort code and account number. When I came to pay from our bank, HSBC, I looked up existing payees, which includes water authorities, councils etc, and found the exact sort code and account number on the letter. I did spend a minute or so double checking that I had typed in the long reference number correctly. A week later we logged onto my wife's account and checked her NI history, and that payment was reflected in her NI contributions history.
#234
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
All very stressful it would seem. I read somewhere (perhaps in this thread?) that paying at the post office is possible?
#235
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
There was someone on here that paid by check every year. Hopefully he will come along with the information. It is also contained in another thread somewhere with the address to send the check
#236
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 2,054
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
Just had an interesting conversation with DWP.
I called to ask about payment. My statement shows a 6-year shortfall:
The lady checked my record and stated: "It may be more beneficial to pay 5 years' back payments and then continue to make some future contributions rather than pay 9 or 10 years of back payments."
I asked how that could be as class 2 NICs are being abolished next year? She said "Where have you heard that?" When I mentioned the budget proposal, she said that is regarding Class 4 contributions.
Sounds like BS to me and she didn't know what she's talking about.
Upshot is I have scheduled for a NI specialist to call me in 2 weeks to decide the best payment schedule and how to pay.
I'll update after that call...
I called to ask about payment. My statement shows a 6-year shortfall:
Forecast if you contribute another 6 years
before 5 April 2029: £159.55
£159.55 is the most you can get
My letter from them lists amounts I can back-pay (up to 10 years).before 5 April 2029: £159.55
£159.55 is the most you can get
The lady checked my record and stated: "It may be more beneficial to pay 5 years' back payments and then continue to make some future contributions rather than pay 9 or 10 years of back payments."
I asked how that could be as class 2 NICs are being abolished next year? She said "Where have you heard that?" When I mentioned the budget proposal, she said that is regarding Class 4 contributions.
Sounds like BS to me and she didn't know what she's talking about.
Upshot is I have scheduled for a NI specialist to call me in 2 weeks to decide the best payment schedule and how to pay.
I'll update after that call...
#237
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
But to be fair, I have had no communication from DWP saying they were stopping class 2. I have only seen media releases. You would have thought they may have put something in this year's statement. Will be interesting to hear the response you get.
#238
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2015
Location: Panama City, FL
Posts: 2,054
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
Yeah all the official stuff I have seen refers to class 2 NICs for self-employed. The only places I've seen it mentioned for ex-pats are 3rd party sites and forums.
#239
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2016
Location: Rural BC
Posts: 256
Re: Voluntary National Insurance contributions
The UK pension compared to some other countries is very generous so it makes sense depending if you can afford it to top it up.