dossier

Hi all

Can a non-British Citizen / non-EEA National pay voluntary Class 3 NICs in arrears for a 6 year period, prior to their date of first arrival in the UK (i.e. their date of entry into UK national insurance)?

For example, if a non-UK/non-EEA national arrives in the UK under a work permitting visa, e.g. on 1 January 2018 and their date of entry into UK National Insurance is 1 January 2018, can they pay Voluntary Class 3 NICs in arrears for the prior 6 tax years (to gain 6 years of NICs) before starting work in the UK?

Many thanks

quiltman

Go ask the DWP. yours is a slightly unusual situation so get an answer from the horses mouth.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organi...-work-pensions

durham_lad

I would think you need a NI number before you can pay for previous years. From your post I'm guessing you don't have one. I don't think you can a NI number until you are resident in the UK. Once you have a NI number you might be able to pay back contributions.

As suggested, contact them directly and find out.

cyrian

I assume that you are looking to increase your UK State Pension.
If your retirement date is after April 2016, then you need a minimum of 10 years contributions to qualify and 35 years to get the full pension.
I think that I read somewhere that every year's additional contributions that you buy, you gain £4.44 per week.

Pulaski

In order to be allowed to pay voluntary contributions while overseas you have to have already paid in for at least three years while living in the UK, so I would say that arrears cannot be paid in at least for this reason, and possibly others, like not having an NI number.

scot47

It is not possible to make payments in arrearsfor a period before you "entered insurance" (ie started paying NI or getting credits)

But check with NI people in Longbenton. They are good at giving information on the phone - if you can find the number.

chipsncurry

Are gov uk helpful online if one has a query about missed NI payments? A mate in Japan, who is in senior years, also wants to know where he stands....he has not been back to the UK for years, except for a visit.

Pulaski

Is he of retirement age? If so he can/should claim, but can't pay in any more.

Personally, I would recommend phoning - the phone staff are, IME, very helpful and efficient.

chipsncurry

Thanks Pulaski, will let him know!

durham_lad

I couldn't set up an online account for detailed personal information showing my contribution record until I was in the UK. My wife then set up her online account and could see all her missing contributions and inquired online, but the letter that came back in the mail essentially said to phone. When she did phone the service was excellent.

Years earlier when I inquired, and then set up the voluntary payments I did it all by post, which took many weeks, but no problems. I would recommend calling.

chipsncurry

Thanks, durham_lad, will pass that on.