iceflow

I sent in the "State Pension Forecast" form in November 22, heard nothing. I'll start calling them on the number listed on the form but if anyone has any recent personal experiences or thoughts to pass on that would be appreciated. This is the place I sent the forecast application to:


Newcastle Pension Centre, Futures Group
The Pension Service 9
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 1LU

lansbury

With the state of the post in the UK probably better to give them a call. When I've needed to speak to them I called even if it meant doing so at silly o'clock PST. Always found the call staff very helpful.

PetrifiedExPat

One would have to assume it becomes means tested at some point?

Nutmegger

State pension is not means tested.

PetrifiedExPat

I have no idea about the legalities for changing in the future. Maybe in 10-15 years? I also fully admit I know nothing about State pension in the UK, but certainly curious

excpomea

I called them the other day, took 30 mins to get through but they were helpful once I managed to speak to an actual person.
Even reset all my details so that I could again access it online.

iceflow

OK folks thanks. I'll give them a call on this number: "Telephone from outside the UK: +44 (0)191 218 3600."
If anyone has any other numbers they have used recently I'd be happy to have them.

Thanks

Pulaski

I assumed that when I started my career, contracting out, and not contributing to Class 2 when I left the UK. But over time, with politicians of all colours continuing to insist that the state pension is sacrosanct, and given that Class 2 contribution rate is peanuts, I dived back in, got a pension forecast. I learned that my years contracted out did no damage (apparently due to my low pay during those years), and that I had also got full credit while I was at uni, due to a ridiculously well paid summer job I had. So with recent years of Class 2 contributions, when combined with the cheques in an envelope that this afternoon is literally on the end of my desk ready to be posted, I will be fully paid up.

At this point, I am not concerned if it does become means tested, as it has only cost me voluntary contributions of around £2,000, and if I am disqualified by reasons of other income, then £2,000 isn't going to be that a big deal anyway, and the fact that the payments were years earlier they will have long since been written off in my own mind.