BristolUK

It's the 'reciprocal' thing. Some years in one country may count for another and vice versa.

Take Canada as an example. One of Canada's Pensions - Old Age Security - has a residential qualifying period. It's 10 years and 40 gets the maximum (subject to other conditions) and if you've done 10, you may get a quarter of the max.

If, say, you've only done 6 but you did more than 4 years in certain other countries - say, the UK - then Canada may treat you has having achieved the 10 years necessary and pay a 25% rate.

Pulaski

Under some limited circumstances years in the US and the UK can be aggregated.

Exnorthumbrian

Thanks Quokka.
I am still resident in Australia - so not sure whether I will need to be UK to get the pension or can get it sent to OZ.
I have sent an email to Longbenton.

morpeth

Is it correct if one worked overseas but wished to make voluntary contributions such contributions can only be Class 3 contributions ?

Pulaski

No, but it will be from 2018 onwards. I myself, have been making Class 2 contributions covering years since, IIRC, 2008.

morpeth

What about before2018 ? I received the calculation of what I can do for catch-up contributions. I had thought being overseas I could only do Class C, whether I was in self employment, or working. I have some early Class 1, a few years according to their statement I had contributions which I am not sure how they calculated, and then a gap which is around 680 to 700 pounds or so per year.

Then if I understand it, one only gets credited in full years. The other thing which I found curious is I understood one could only go back 6 years to catch up, but on each of those past years it says I have until 2023. I am a bit confused.

Pulaski

My post, that you quoted, answered exactly that question - I am paying Class 2, and will do until next year. I think I have to be employed, not self-employed to qualify for Class 2.

nun

Nope....you can pay Class 2 if you are employed or self-employed abroad.

Quokka

This only applies to UK residents.

BristolUK

And according to what's been confirmed in my application to pay, also if one is neither.

shelley748

I believe you can only buy back 6 years.

shelley748

Thank you

Pulaski

That is generally correct, but I have heard of cases where payment more than six years in arrears was permitted, but I am not certain why. It might have been connected to the transitional arrangements for people who were not going to meet the 35 years of contributions requirement (after the announcement of it going up from 30 years) despite having paid for all recent years.

morpeth

It must be related to the transitional arrangements. On my case the last 6 years can be paid up until 2023. thus by 2022 some would have been 10 years earlier

durham_lad

Current year plus 6 previous years I think. When I paid my back years I thought they had allowed 7 years but I applied about this time of year (before April) so was able to effectively pay 7 years in arrears.