physicsteacher

Hi,

Im a uk expat living in Malaysia. I became an examiner for a uk exam board. I basically marked them online. The exam board payed me into my uk account.

However i was charged £150 for national insurance. Can i claim that back? Only money i made in the tax year for the uk.

Physics teacher

geedee

You probably could, but I wouldn't if I were you as it may affect your pension... you may be young and think that's no big deal, but one day it will be!

Good luck.

Davita

My understanding of the UK National Insurance (NI) with regard to expats pension is that any contribution, prior to leaving UK, could be saved by continuing to contribute whilst an expat.

In my own case I had already contributed for some 22 years before I became an expat. Some time later I was advised to buy-back 10 years of contributions for a lump sum, and did so. Since then, until age 65, I paid an annual contribution.
For the last 11 years I've received the UK OAP. I believe the total OAP received is already more than I contributed.

The rules may be different now but I suggest UK expats should check their own NI benefits.

ex reg

To get the full pension you have to have contributed a min of 30years of NI.
While in UK you contribute Class 1 or Class 2 if self employed.

Overseas you contribute Class 3 whether self employed or not.

Less than 30 years contributions will decrease your pension.

Before you are 65, maybe even after, you can pay the balance between less than 30 years and the 30 years if you do a calculation and believe you will benefit by extra payment

I think that's all correct.

mikelincs

Under new rules coming in the 2016, the qualifying years go up to 35 to get a full pension.

Davita

I needed 44 years of contributions to achieve FULL pension. I believe that is why 10 years of buy-back was available. I still didnt achieve 44 years and now get less than the full pension.
The goal posts keep changing and it needs attention to the details to get the best personal deal.

physicsteacher

Hi,

Didn't even enter my head that it would affect my pension! I'm hoping to emigrate abroad but not 100% so will leave the money there in case I move back to the uk.

Cheers for the advice!

bakedbean

Well,that is the problem isn't it....goal posts. I remember getting a letter saying that 30 years contribs were enough and I could stop, and I did. And now poster above saying they're switching back to 35 years. Well isn't that flipping marvellous. regards, Disgruntled in Penang

mikelincs

New pensions changes start in April 2017, and that will be the start of the flat rate pension, at that time the qualifying period goes up to 35 years.

Nakrob

I believe that you have a time limit within which to make contributions for any given year for it to be a qualifying year. That was my understanding from a recent letter. Maybe it's a limited time for it to be paid at the lower rates. Still, It's about 5 years so I've been making lump sum payments every so often since leaving the UK to keep up to date. Yes the goal posts may change but its not a significant contribution in the scheme of things for the eventual benefit.

Bluenose1

Don't forget, though, that once you start receiving that pension, it will never be increased for as long as you live outside of the EU, or a (very) few Commonwealth countries. As the rules stand currently, I understand that if you return to the EU (on holiday, say) then you can actually claim whatever the pension is at that time, while you are in the EU, (although I haven't ascertained how you would actually do that) but once you return to your country of residence you revert back to the original amount!

Nakrob

Hhhmmmm, yes, that's true. Inflation will soon start to diminish the actual value of the pension. It's hard to assess these things really. I've still taken the choice to keep contributing while an expat, in case I do return to the UK and as i can afford to do so.