Originally Posted by Steve_

The other benefits are meaningless if you live abroad.



I asked this further back, if you retire after April 2016, you need 35 years worth of contributions so fill in as many missing years as you can now while you can do it using Class 2.

Just one point about Class 3 - it's more expensive but you don't have to be employed to contribute to Class 3. Anyone who has three years worth of Class 1 NI can contribute to Class 3 if they live abroad. Which will be the next thing they crack down on.

Originally Posted by chawkins99

I sent off the application to pay class 2 NICs a couple of months ago for myself and my wife. Just got them back this week.

Mine was approved and it showed a shortfall dating back to 2006-2007 that I can pay (about £1500 total for 11 years of class 2). It also states I am paid up for 26 years. However, my online statement shows if I contribute another 6 years, I'll reach the maximum pension even though that would only be 32 years. I was contracted out for several years.

So, do I pay 6 years as indicated by the statement, 9 years to reach 35 years or all 11 years available?

What is the best way to pay considering I only have a US bank account? I don't see any option with my bank (regions) to do an online payment to the UK. https://www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-cla...e/bank-details shows how to pay from overseas but has anybody used this? I would need to go into a branch to set it up and what exchange rate to use? I'm nervous of sending a couple of grand into a non-descript account with no way to track/verify. A post earlier in this thread said their payment disappeared into the ether never to be seen again.

My wife's application was denied because she said she would not be working in the US when we arrived (H4). That question is a bit misleading. However, she has been working for several years now. I called the hotline and they said to re-submit the form with details of her current employment and they would re-assess.

Originally Posted by mrken30

I got a notification in the post that the extra contributions had been added. I think I got that after 6 to 8 weeks. You can always call them to check.

Originally Posted by chawkins99

Update:

I made a payment by wire transfer on July 13th which should cover around 6 years' of past contributions but the payment has not yet hit my NI account (six weeks later).

Typically, how long does it take for them to process and for it to appear on my record?

Originally Posted by morpeth

My experience is it can take 3 to 6 weeks BUT definitely call : amazingly if the sum received doesn't meet their particular criteria, or is received without instructions, they have to manually adjust. SO it could be reflected on their records, but they haven't applied to particular years.

Originally Posted by chawkins99

I spoke to them before I sent it and told them which years I was sending. They noted it on my file.

Originally Posted by texasbound

I have just logged into the site where you can check your UK State pension forecast. We left the UK 3+ years ago and can see that the years 14-15 and 15-16 are not complete, but when I click in it says for both years a payment of £722.80 is needed. Was expecting ~~£100 for Class 3.

Can someone help explain whats going on?

thanks

Originally Posted by morpeth

I respect your faith in bureaucracy, I was told the same- but called back to check if applied correctly.

Originally Posted by chawkins99

Class 2 would be around £160. The number above will be class 3.

You would need to apply to pay at the class 2 level (assuming you qualify).

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...ty-abroad-ni38

Originally Posted by texasbound

OK, that is starting to make sense, thanks for the clarification

Originally Posted by chawkins99

Fixed above post. Class 2 is actually £145.60.