But does the process you are following resemble the one I have described. For example, have you submitted a form CF83 or how did you initiate the whole thing ?
As I said, it took about 3 months from me receiving a reaction to that form until the whole process was completed. Maybe try phoning again and ask if they need any further information and if they have a target date for completion of the process.
Does anyone know, if it says I have already got 24 qualifying years and I need 30 for a full State pension. Is there any point in paying for more than 6 more years (I could pay up to 16 more years)?
I worked (was employed) in the UK for much of the 1990 and hence qualify.
I set up a UK Gov ID login (was able to use my passport etc) and was then able to see all my NI coutributions history online and it showed all the years where a buy back was possible (back to 2006).
I also called the helpline to ensure my appliction had been received (which it was). The NI Agent was very helpful. He pointed out that I had aplied to make class 3 contribution (buyback) but indicated that I should have applied under class 2 which was significantly cheaper. He sugegsted I re-submit my form before the closing date which I did.
He also told me that at that time (march 2023) there was a 23 week backlog so I would not be hearing anything until closer to the end of the year.
I understand that once processed, I will get a payment code and bank details to make the NI buyback payment so I'll be able to buy back since 2006 which will will be approx 15-16 years. When recived, the online portal will update my total number of years. (max is 35)
Very glad I called them.
I received a letter from HRMC and they accepted my application to pay Class 2 contributions. (well partially)
The letter detailed the amount I would need to pay to buy-back each of the years between 2006/07 and 2022/23. In the main this was approx. GBP 163 per annum.
However, there were some years where in respect of a handful of weeks, the class 3 rate was applied (e.g. 44 weeks @ 3.15 and 8 weeks @ 15.85). These were the years where I was not technically in employment (as I was preparing to move to CH). So, I believe many people will end up paying a mixture of class 2 and class 3 depending on their employment history.
I have read that one would normally make a payment using an 18 digit code that HRMC would send. I did not received such a code but a link in the letter provided instructions for making payments from overseas. You would send payment to a certain HRMC IBAN and include your NI Number and your name in the reference line.
I have made a single payment for GBP 163.80 and will check with them in a few weeks time (on the Login portal) to see what has happened.
The payment reference is made up from your UK NI number + some other 2 digit code + your surname but the document explains all this.
I have 31 years fully paid NI and the system tells me I'd need to pay another 5 years to get a full state pension. I paid up to 2019 which was when we closed our business back in the UK so I haven't paid anything into the UK system since then.
I found it quite confusing as some of the info seemed to contradict other info given and I was left with no idea what to do.
For the record I also have 2 pension forecast letters from HMRC, one says I was contracted out of SERPS and the other says I wasn't, and the pension forecasts on them are 2 different amounts which doesn't help!
Posted about a year ago by Sarah
Hi all, I was having this problem too and a friend told me if you opt to scan your UK passport instead of entering info manually (where it ends up asking for a UK postcode that we don't have) then it works. And it did! You have to download a gov verify app to scan your passport and your face and then you are in. We both did it this evening to look at pension forecasts.