National Insurance Contributions
 

Has anyone continued to pay their NI contributions after they moved to Canada. If so how do you pay? Do you still have a UK account and pay from that or do you transfer money from a Canadian account?

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

I made a 'bill' payment from my UK account quoting the reference on the letter. It wasn't a suggested method but it worked.

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

Thanks :)

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

I wire transfer funds from my Canadian bank. It's probably not the most cost-efficient way to do it, but the only other sensible option that I could think of would have been to transfer money to a relative and get them to send a cheque... that seemed fraught with opportunities to go wrong.

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

I buy a money order at the post office and send it. The bank will issue a similar document but the post office is cheaper.

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

Thanks for the suggestions. Good to know there are options that work.

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

Why do pay in to your national insurance?

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

Because it raises your UK pension. :)

https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-nationa...-contributions

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

There's that aspect to it but also it's a matter of responsibility. Funding of health and benefits only works if everyone does his of her bit. It's not a burdensome cost to do the right thing.

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

Can you elaborate on your point here?

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

How much is it per year? And does it only matter if you end of retiring in the UK?

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

Me? I think it's a fairly simple one, state funding of benefits such as pensions depends on the participation of all of society. One should pay one's NI as one should pay one's taxes.

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

Even if you have no intention of living in the UK again?

Re: National Insurance Contributions
 

Of course. It's not the fault of an inclusive society that some people choose to opt out for a period. People say they'll go and live on a desert island or in some barren wasteland forever but few of them turn out to mean it. If they don't keep up their contributions then, when Shangri-La turns out not to be all that, they'll return and struggle to catch up.

Re: National Insurance Contributions