Paying voluntary contributions for U.K. pension

[kedikat2903]

I started to receive my U.K. state pension last year. I managed to do this by phone. I was told I wouldn’t receive the full amount as I had only worked 33 years and I needed 35 years to get the full amount. I said I wanted to pay the extra contributions and was told a form would be sent to my U.K. address. I never received a form and after several unhelpful phone calls I tried to get information from the government website. No luck there either. It’s a very confusing website and difficult to find correct phone numbers or email addresses. Has anyone managed to pay voluntary contributions and if so how did you do it please ?

[Bert]

Go on the Gov site I am sure that will explain all

[kedikat2903]

Thanks Bert. Unfortunately the website didn’t help ! Only has information on future pensions . Nothing about how to do it after receiving your pension.

[susiesusie]

Did not think you could after you started claiming.

[susiesusie]

It works of have been roughly 800 pounds yearly depending on the actual year you were paying. If you are allowed which I don't think you are it's wise to pay the years after 2016 . Ie 2017 onwards .

[Dave G]

I had the exact same problem, I was self employed and when I had paid 32 years contributions I stopped paying NI, then they increased it to 35 years, I was then told how much extra I needed to pay for each additional year and how much extra I would receive and I was also told how long after I started receiving my pension I could pay, i decided to wait a while until I paid the extra, but before my pension became due I received another letter saying I could no longer pay additional contributions. Later I read about a number of people who had made additional contributions but receive no additional pension and they would not refund the additional payments, I think it was something to do with which years payments were not paid

[Terri299]

I have not reached retirement age yet but have taken early retirement. Since the changes made in 2016 I need to make additional contributions to receive full pension. I have just paid for year 20/21 & on my pension forecast it said I had until 2027 or sometime in the future to pay if I wanted to. Not sure if you can still do this if you are drawing your pension though. I did have to jump through hoops to pay. You first need to speak to DWP, who will tell you what you owe & what difference it will make to your pension, so maybe then you will be advised if you can increase your pension, then the HMRC to pay, who ask if you have spoken to DWP. There are phone numbers on gov.uk site to call.

[Asia111]

Try these nos. Just checked the gov’t website - they are current nos.
You will need to have your NI no at the ready.

03002003500
From abroad +44 191 203 7010

Someone should be able to help you on above nos.

You can get a pension forecast and other information from government website without speaking to anyone also. You will need to set up an account and will may need a UK phone to get one time pass code as part of the process and have an email address and new password to access your account in future.

[susiesusie]

Yes. It's called a government gateway account. Many things needed though to get one.

[Ace123]

I think susiesusie is correct and once you have started receiving your pension unable to top up . I didn’t think 2 years would have made that much difference though

[Dalartokat]

All the information is here including making extra payments info….International Pension Centre Tel. No…..

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-ad ... e-pension/

Just added this also for info…

https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-i ... ions/rates