My wife has received a letter from HMR&C advising her that she has 27 years which count towards the Basic State Pension. She apparently needs 30 years to get the full Basic State Pension. She has been advised that she can pay £101.40 to cover 2007-2008.

If she does this, will she get a similar letter for the next couple of years advising what she needs to pay in to cover the additional years so that she can get her 30 years in or are we wasting our time sending this first amount over. It seemed a shame to miss out on the Government giving something back for the sake of a couple of years contributions having got in 27 years.

Anybody advise or been through similar ?

Not sure what the answer is BUT does this mean that when i move over, and after only paying around 13 or so years into the pension pot, will the UK Government allow me to bung them some dosh that works up to the equivalent of 30 years?

As you rightly say, it'd be a shame not to get full entitlement for the sake of a few years/quid.

I got the same letter, except I have 28 years so far but need to pay 405.60 GBP to make 2007/2008 count towards my 30 years. I have to pay before April 5, 2010 and will be doing that because I don't want to miss out on my full pension.

Gawd, I feel old

I was looking at this the other day, as there was an article in the press. 30 years is the new total you need to get in to get full pension.

From the example given in the press article, you can buy up to a further 6 years to get you up to 30 years - which is good news for those of us who are thinking of moving abroad with just under 30 years. There was also something on the website about arrangements with certain countries (Canada was mentioned) where you can get contributions paid in Canada used towards UK pension, though I didn't look too closely at this.

Have a look on the pensions website and it will no doubt tell you more.

A thought - if we go with 30 years UK pension in, then start paying into Canadian state pension (if there is one) for the rest of our working lives (about 20 years) - could we end up with full UK pension and part Canadian? Seems too good to be true - I'm sure there must be something to stop us doing that, even if it is technically possible!!

Continue paying and she gets a full pension or ignore the payments and get twenty-seven thirtieths when she is eligible.

That's how I see it.

I would advise paying.

According to HMR&C I can pay back years too but the maximum pension I can receive is seventeen thirtieths of the full pension.

Yeah, I think we will at least pay the 2007-2008 one as it's only £101, whereas buying the next two years ( years 29 and 30 ) could well be a lot more expensive as she didn't work in the UK and therefore pay any NI, so will have to see.

At least she will get 28/30ths. Whereas I would need to pay in just short of 10 years to get me to 30 years.

Had she not worked 2007/2008 would have cost 405.60 UKP.

I guess you have to figure are you going to get that and years 29 & 30 back over the length of the pension.

My guess is yes by a large margin even if it is frozen at the initial amount.

Even your ten years would be worth it.

Hi
Not sure if this is appropriate to your situation, but having children, I applied for Home responsibilities credits, so if I am unable to work my NI is credited up until the children reach 16. May be worth seeing if you can apply for that retrospectively.
Hope this helps
lol
Stef

Once you start drawing your pension if you are living in Canada, be aware that currently you will not receive any annual increase.

No, nothing whatsoever to do with my situation, but thanks.