I moved from the UK (where I was born and raised) in 1994 after graduating. I started off with an H1B visa and now have a green card (renewed once). I've lived in the USA since 1994. My quick questions are this:
1. Having never made any voluntary NI payments, is it too late to start now?
2. I'm now 43, so wouldn't be able to make 30 years of NI payments before retirement - would I still get some sort of smaller pension payment?
3. How would I even begin to make payments? - I haven't been in contact with any government agency in the UK since being in the USA; would I be forgotten after so many years?

This is my first post and I have been trying to search the forum to find answers. Please forgive me if I'm asking basic questions that have been answered many times before.

Thanks.

Here you go, contact them. Provide your NI number.

They'll prepare a statement of what you need to do.
What you'll need to pay and when will depend on how many years you've contributed, if any, when you were in the UK.
It's a good idea to make the voluntary payments since they're pretty inexpensive.
National Insurance Contributions - International Caseworker Team

Point of contact International Caseworker Team
Phone number 0845 915 4811
Calling from outside the UK
+44 191 225 4811
Opening hours From 8.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday

1 did you ever pay NI., if so do you still have your NI nr.
2 contact site in UK is www.hmrc.gov.uk then go through the various steps.
On this site...
3 Under thread credit-ratings on this site people share their experieces
4 ditto there are a couple more threads on/under NI contributions.

Sorry cant remember the full threads names relevant to NI, but they are recent.
Plus just put NI contributions on google you will get a list of contacts mainly,
Under hmrc

Thanks for the quick replies. I like the idea of just calling the phone number posted and speaking to someone to explain the details.

I forgot to mention that I've been on long term disability (long story) since 2006. I still have reasonable income from disability insurance so there will be no problem paying the voluntary NI. However I wasn't sure if this would be an issue or not. Should I just not mention anything about disability while on the phone?

I'm also married to a US citizen (if that makes any difference regarding this).

Thanks again.

May be wrong, but something is ringing a bell that you need to be employed and/or paying SS contributions in country of residence in order to qualify for paying reduced UK NI contributions? I have had a couple of letters over the years asking me to confirm my working status and whether I am making SS contributions here. Best bet is to call the folk on the help desk hotspot mentioned...they've always been very helpful and knowledgeable when I've spoken to them.

Maybe this is something to do with ensuring you are paying the correct class of voluntary contributions? (I don't know for sure, just postulating)

Yes, there was something like that, I'm sure. But if the OP calls, they'll point him in the right direction.

Watching this with interest. Hope the OP posts back here with the outcome.

I haven't worked, or paid into the SS system, for 4 years and I'm still eligible, and paying, Class 3 NI contributions.

I'm sure all will be explained with a phone call.

Here is a link regarding paying voluntary NI contributions if one lives abroad:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/volcontr/abroad.htm

http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/national-...sion-statement *

* Do take further advice on the rule regarding paying for up to 6 tax years of voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions.

They changed the rules recently, used to be able to claim married allowance but unless she made her own NI contributions you will only be eligible to claim single person allowance. You should factor that into any decision as to whether it is worth doing payments.

I wonder why they keep periodically asking me about my work .... I am sort of self employed, so I have to send them a letter confirming that I am still employing myself. Last time I just sent them a copy of the letter I sent a few years earlier, and asked them to keep it on my file

You have to have been employed and paying NI in the UK for at least three years to be able to make voluntary contributions. And you have to be employed now to make Class 2 contributions, which are something ridiculously low like £145 a year, I forget exactly. If you're unemployed you have to do Class 3 which are a lot more expensive.

Can I only make Class 2 contributions while being employed? If I loose my job living abroad, will I need to report HMRC and switch to Class 3?

In NI38 form there is a question about my salary/wage (question 21). Should I provide them with a true number, or "N/A" is acceptable? I don't see any reason to ask this unless the current rules change and HMRC start taxing their citizens abroad like IRS do. Its better not to share any extra information unless I'm "extra" asked about it

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I'm hoping to make the phone call within the next week and will definitely report back what I find out.

It does seem a little unfair (regarding ability to pay) that someone unemployed or disabled would have to pay the higher Class 3 contributions. I can understand the temptation (although not right) to just claim being self employed to be able to pay the lower Class 2 amount. Are they actually requesting that you send proof that you are properly self employed (e.g. USA tax return)?

To be honest I feel a little hesitant to make the call and making it official with NI that I'm on long term disability - just the fear that this could be held against me in some weird way if I make it back to the UK and wanted to start working again (if able of course).

Thanks again for all the feedback.