nun

I've been paying attention to the recent changes to UK state retirement benefits; gradually increasing the retirement age etc, and the onther day I got a letter from the foreign NI office in Newcastle saying that if I had 30 years of voluntary contributions I should stop paying as that now qualifies for full state pension. Well I have a few years to go yet, but it got me thinking. Does anyone know if the new rules affect expats paying Class 2 contributions or if the government is looking to alter our benefits in any way

Dogbyte

Careful, it has not yet been passed into Law yet.I have had the same letter as I am still paying voluntary Class 3.I suggest a waiting period into next year then contact them again.

Bob

yup, definitely hold off on it, unless you've only got a couple years left...

to make the contributions though, you've had to been working for 3 years before you buggered off abroad, so I don't have the years, which is a bit off, oh well.

budtonite

Not yet passed into law and will not come into effect until 2010.

I have just been looking at making some class 2 catchup contributions to make sure I get my 44 years!! If you already have your 30 years in, then you can stop paying now.

If the new rules do not come in, then you can simply play catchup.

Jerseygirl

Interesting...my hubby's received no such letter.

budtonite

It is well worth contacting them to request a statement of your contributions and also a forecast of your pension. You can make the request via e-mail, but any reply containing personal information will be returned by regular mail.

They were fairly responsive - 4 to 6 weeks - fairly reasonable. They will also provide you with SOME information relating to the 2010 changes along the lines of what I posted above.

Jerseygirl

OK...thank you...we will do just that.