National Insurance
#61
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"you must have lived in the UK for a continuous three-year period at any time before making your payments
or
before you went abroad, you paid National Insurance contributions for three years or more"
In order to pay voluntary Class 2 contributions you must be employed or self employed abroad and either have been:
"'ordinarily' employed or self-employed immediately before you went abroad
or
'ordinarily' employed or self-employed but became unemployed immediately before you went abroad to work ('unemployed' means registered as unemployed with the Department for Work and Pensions and looking for work)"
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#62
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Can someone confirm the difference between class 2 and class 3 contributions?
I have about 15 years to pay in order to get my 30 years in and be eligible for a UK pension. If I choose to make voluntary contributions, but my husband does not, can we still claim the additional amount for a couples pension rate (160% of the single rate I think?)
I have about 15 years to pay in order to get my 30 years in and be eligible for a UK pension. If I choose to make voluntary contributions, but my husband does not, can we still claim the additional amount for a couples pension rate (160% of the single rate I think?)
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/ni/intro/benefits.htm
you'll notice that Class 2 contributions qualify you for more benefits than Class 3 and they are also less expensive.......
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If you pay Class 2 but your husband does not under current rules you will get the basic state pension for married persons based on your contributions. If you have 30 years that would be 160% of the single persons pension under current rules. If your husband also paid you could qualify for two basic state pensions......so only one of you contribution is a pretty good deal, as long as you stay together.
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#63
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I'm 45, I left the UK in 2003 and have been paying class 3 NI contributions ever since by direct debit from my UK bank account, I only have about 2 years left after this one till I've paid in enough qualifying years. I thought that was what I needed to do to get a full pension. However, all the posts in this thread have confused me - have I wasted my money paying class 3 contributions - should I stop and pay the much cheaper class 2 instead for the remainder of the time? My finances are very tight and I could do with the extra cash! I have been working full time in the US since 2004.
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When I applied to make Class 2 contributions, I had to supply a list of employment I have and had in the US, the latter presumably because I was also paying six years of back contributions. Whether they actually did any kind of check on the information I gave them, I have no clue.
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#66
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In my correspondence with HM Revenue and Customs I have always been given the impression that I had to pay Class 3 contributions until year 30 in order to get a full pension on my retirement - this is very depressing to this heavily-in-debt guy!
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#67
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Sally,
It all goes back to the US Social Security position that lower paid workers get a higher percentage return for the money they have put in the system in relation to Higher Paid workers. I think they quote a 55% to 25% on the US SSA website. The US system has nothing to do with need, but entitlement.
The WEP deduction on foreign worked pensions, where a person has not accomplished thirty years of worked sustainable income in the United States, is supposed to equalize or reduce entitlement compared to those who have had thirty years of Sustainable Earnings!
That it discriminates against immigrants who rely on both systems is part of the story of the current attempts to repeal WEP. As mentioned in other posts, I encourage you to write to your senators/rep and sign the petition linked here.
It all goes back to the US Social Security position that lower paid workers get a higher percentage return for the money they have put in the system in relation to Higher Paid workers. I think they quote a 55% to 25% on the US SSA website. The US system has nothing to do with need, but entitlement.
The WEP deduction on foreign worked pensions, where a person has not accomplished thirty years of worked sustainable income in the United States, is supposed to equalize or reduce entitlement compared to those who have had thirty years of Sustainable Earnings!
That it discriminates against immigrants who rely on both systems is part of the story of the current attempts to repeal WEP. As mentioned in other posts, I encourage you to write to your senators/rep and sign the petition linked here.
Just to emphasis any UK pension you get that was paid for by voluntary NI contributions is not included in WEP calculations. The pension must be from non-SS wages. So any UK private pension you have from UK employment and the state pension due to Class 1 compulsory NI will be included in WEP.
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#68
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When I applied to make Class 2 contributions, I had to supply a list of employment I have and had in the US, the latter presumably because I was also paying six years of back contributions. Whether they actually did any kind of check on the information I gave them, I have no clue.
Here is all the information you need to determine what NIC you should pay and how to do it.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pdfs/nico/ni38.pdf
Last edited by nun; Jun 22nd 2012 at 9:19 am.
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Class 2 NI contributions are payable by the self-employed AND in certain circumstances on a voluntary basis if you live abroad. To qualify to pay voluntary NI
In order to pay voluntary Class 2 contributions you must be employed or self employed abroad and either have been:
"'ordinarily' employed or self-employed immediately before you went abroad
In order to pay voluntary Class 2 contributions you must be employed or self employed abroad and either have been:
"'ordinarily' employed or self-employed immediately before you went abroad
If you paid Class 2 self-employed contributions to the UK scheme, and you do not have enough US Sustained Earnings over thirty years sliding as a % to 20 years and under, you'll pay WEP.
If you were self-employed (working) and resident in the States (and paying FICA which you need to do by law if you legally reside here) and paying Class 2 SE contributions to the UK scheme, then you are paying twice and subject to WEP.
From what I understand, WEP can only be avoided by Class 3 Voluntary Contributions, reaching the US Sustainable Earnings requirement, or using the Totalization Agreement where you can take both systems and make one benefit. The Totalization Agreement doesn't come in to play if you are qualified in either system.
There are assumed "administrative" costs related to a Class 3 because of non-residency, or as it's termed in the UK 'not ordinary resident', that are not in class 2.
I hope I'm wrong, but you can avoid it all by helping us repeal WEP through Senate Bill S2010 Social Security Fairness Act! A lot of Senators and Reps know nothing about WEP, but we're getting the word out. As it affects over two million people, we need your help by signing the petition:
http://signon.org/sign/social-securi...mt&r_by=695993
Any problems with the link, please let me know.
Matt
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#72
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From what I can see it's not what the Brits think, it's what the Americans think!
If you paid Class 2 self-employed contributions to the UK scheme, and you do not have enough US Sustained Earnings over thirty years sliding as a % to 20 years and under, you'll pay WEP.
If you were self-employed (working) and resident in the States (and paying FICA which you need to do by law if you legally reside here) and paying Class 2 SE contributions to the UK scheme, then you are paying twice and subject to WEP.
From what I understand, WEP can only be avoided by Class 3 Voluntary Contributions, reaching the US Sustainable Earnings requirement, or using the Totalization Agreement where you can take both systems and make one benefit. The Totalization Agreement doesn't come in to play if you are qualified in either system.
There are assumed "administrative" costs related to a Class 3 because of non-residency, or as it's termed in the UK 'not ordinary resident', that are not in class 2.
I hope I'm wrong, but you can avoid it all by helping us repeal WEP through Senate Bill S2010 Social Security Fairness Act! A lot of Senators and Reps know nothing about WEP, but we're getting the word out. As it affects over two million people, we need your help by signing the petition:
http://signon.org/sign/social-securi...mt&r_by=695993
Any problems with the link, please let me know.
Matt
If you paid Class 2 self-employed contributions to the UK scheme, and you do not have enough US Sustained Earnings over thirty years sliding as a % to 20 years and under, you'll pay WEP.
If you were self-employed (working) and resident in the States (and paying FICA which you need to do by law if you legally reside here) and paying Class 2 SE contributions to the UK scheme, then you are paying twice and subject to WEP.
From what I understand, WEP can only be avoided by Class 3 Voluntary Contributions, reaching the US Sustainable Earnings requirement, or using the Totalization Agreement where you can take both systems and make one benefit. The Totalization Agreement doesn't come in to play if you are qualified in either system.
There are assumed "administrative" costs related to a Class 3 because of non-residency, or as it's termed in the UK 'not ordinary resident', that are not in class 2.
I hope I'm wrong, but you can avoid it all by helping us repeal WEP through Senate Bill S2010 Social Security Fairness Act! A lot of Senators and Reps know nothing about WEP, but we're getting the word out. As it affects over two million people, we need your help by signing the petition:
http://signon.org/sign/social-securi...mt&r_by=695993
Any problems with the link, please let me know.
Matt
Many people in the US don't pay FICA....or at least all of it. Many states opt out of the SS portion and their employees only pay medicare. if you are coming to WEP repeal form a foreign pension angle I don't think you'll get much notice from the US Senate and House. If it's general WEP opposition how will you deal with the inequitable amount of SS people will receive if they have less than 30 years of SS contributions? I read your petition......I don't agree with it.
Last edited by nun; Jun 22nd 2012 at 9:57 am.
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#74
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I actually had a very nice phone call from HMRC the other day. I paid my 30th NIC recently and emailed HMRC to confirm that i was done and that I have 30 years of NICs. They actually called my cell phone and confirmed that I had 29 years and that the one I had just sent would make 30 and I didn't need to pay anymore.......all done in a great Geordie accent too that made me want to move back to the North East sooner rather than later.
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#75
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That is correct, and yes I am honest. It's the curse of being a scientist and raised methodist.
I actually had a very nice phone call from HMRC the other day. I paid my 30th NIC recently and emailed HMRC to confirm that i was done and that I have 30 years of NICs. They actually called my cell phone and confirmed that I had 29 years and that the one I had just sent would make 30 and I didn't need to pay anymore.......all done in a great Geordie accent too that made me want to move back to the North East sooner rather than later.
I actually had a very nice phone call from HMRC the other day. I paid my 30th NIC recently and emailed HMRC to confirm that i was done and that I have 30 years of NICs. They actually called my cell phone and confirmed that I had 29 years and that the one I had just sent would make 30 and I didn't need to pay anymore.......all done in a great Geordie accent too that made me want to move back to the North East sooner rather than later.
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