scot47

Keep copies of all correspondence.

Benson55

They seem to change their address frequently so its very confusing and inefficient must be terrible for the people who work there.

Exp76

My first application disappeared into the ether. I would advise everyone to send registered mail.

NAntonio

They take 6 weeks to respond usually as well, absolutely outdated

Benson55

They take around 4 months to reply to me....

riri2010

Just a quick update...

My online account has finally been updated to show that the 7 years I was eligible to back-pay have been paid in full. They initially allocated everything to the current tax year, but after a month and a half wait, everything is allocated in the correct year.

All that needs to be done now is for the tax office to restart the collection of direct debit payments for the current years allowance.

So, i'm happy to say that this long and (very annoying) process is almost finally over after around six months. Good luck to you guys who are still going through this!

durham_lad

Well done, thanks for the update, it sounds like you are on the home stretch now. Hopefully you’ll soon get your ongoing direct debits sorted.

Benson55

Seems they update the pension amount in April and now the site shows I am up to 154PDS a week with 37 years contributions with the additional voluntary I have paid them.

durham_lad

Presumably you have stopped making voluntary contributions now because the pension maxes out after 35 years.

dossier

Would I be right in thinking that you can get a full UK state pension with 35 qualifying years through, say, 35 years of voluntary Class 3 contributions? i.e. say you have never worked in the UK, but you just start making Voluntary Class 3 payments each year?

Thanks

spouse of scouse

I don't think you can do that, see below

Living and working abroad​​​​​​ -Class 2, but only if you worked in the UK immediately before leaving, and you’ve previously lived in the UK for 3 years in a row and paid 3 years of contributions
Living abroad but not working - Class 3, but only if at some point you’ve lived in the UK continuously for 3 years and paid 3 years of contributions
https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-nationa...-contributions

dossier

So if you grow up in the UK, pay 3 years of voluntary contributions after age 16, and then emigrate, you can continue paying voluntary class 3 until you get to 35 years of contributions?

Thanks

durham_lad

I believe you have to have paid at least 3 years NI contributions through employment or self employment before being allowed to pay additional voluntary contributions. (Through employment it is not voluntary and is a tax on wages)

dossier

I thought anyone (in the UK) could start paying voluntary Class 3 NICs if they are not working + over 16? There's nothing in the CA5603 application to suggest otherwise?

https://assets.publishing.service.go...ons_CA5603.pdf

durham_lad