Steerpike

Just checked online; my recent payment was correctly credited for year 2019-20 despite all the messy 'reference numbers', and that gives me 22 full years, which translates to a pension of 111.57 GBP/week. If I make an additional 4 payments (the most I can make), I will get 131.59 GBP/week.

OldJuddian

Today I had a letter telling me that they have noticed that I have not paid since October, despite having a Direct Debit set-up. They suggested that it could be their error, and apologized, and asked me to fill out the form again :-(
So thanks to their mistake I need the hassle of the paperwork again.

mrken30

I have 32 years, hopefully only another 3 years to go unless they up the requirement to 40 years. The Government has a lot of money to find in the upcoming years. I do periodically check my contributions at https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check...count/nirecord , however it does not show payments for the current tax year.

celticgrid

Some months back I got a letter advising a shortfall - due to their error, even though a direct debit was up and running. The letter gave loads of options of how to pay the arrears including an online payment option. No paperwork required - that would indeed have been annoying.

ivanidea

Received the letter saying they have accepted my application to pay voluntary Clas 2 NICs.

I have 34 years of contributions, and the letter shows me I can pay £158.60 for 2018-2019, and £159.00 for 2019-2020. I believe I only need to pay for one year though (by today's criteria).

The confurion now is, the website quotes:

HMRC’s bank details

• Sort code: 08 32 20
• Account number: 12001004
• Account name: HMRC NICO
• Payment reference: Your 18-digit reference number

Yet, the letter says as I'm an overseas customer, to just quote my NI number as the reference. To quote any other number would delay processing payment as it would be sent to another department.

Different from information posted by other BE members.

adele

I just got my letter too, which states the same as yours. The website says this:


So I read that as use your NINO and name combination as shown above rather than any other reference number. I just sent my payment for 11 years of contributions using that reference via Transferwise (my first time using it).

Thanks so much for all the helpful advice on BE! If it wasn't for this site I wouldn't have known about applying to pay class 2 NICs or about Transferwise. Thanks to all contributors for helping me navigate the process!

durham_lad

congratulations on getting the payment done, and thanks for sharing that letter.

adele

The wording I quoted is from the website. My letter was worded the same as ivanidea's :-)

morpeth

did you have to fill out any forms, or just evidence of being eligible sufficient ?

Steerpike

You fill out a form to provide the evidence needed.

The document 'Social Security Abroad' is labeled as 'NI38', and is called a 'leaflet' within the document itself. The NI38 document contains 31 pages of instructions and descriptions, and then includes an actual form to fill in labeled CF83 - 2 pages. This combined document is available for download on the HMRC website.

The form has various questions about your employment history in the UK, and your employment history abroad. I called and asked for guidance and they want a comprehensive list of employers, so I created a separate sheet listing all employers and dates while in the US.

The questions seem to focus on whether you were an employee or self-employed. I was always an employee, both in the UK and US.

I submitted my form December 2 2019 and received the 'approval' February 12, 2020 (but did not receive that letter till April or May!)

OldJuddian

Today a letter arrived dated 14 Sep, so a speedy 3 week delivery, saying that my payment in July has finally been processed to fill the gaps, and the DD restarted. It took a long time, but at least I can now ignore this again.
Only 18 months left to go before I max out.

Their letter did say to speed up service next time I should provide a 'daytime phone number'. Although being on the West Coast I am not sure that would have helped.

vespucci

I've never received a call regarding NI, but I did get a call one morning around 8 AM in response to a query I'd made regarding OAP.

Steerpike

I suspect they will call you during THEIR daytime, which is evening / night for us. Works for me ...

Owen778

The UK is ahead of the US. Their daytime is late night / morning for us.

ivanidea

Following advice from this thread, I downloaded a form, and mailed it off. Worth doing since I am able to top up using the cheaper Class 2.