UK state pension

Widows Son

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122660187#Comment_122660187

What number did you call .. I was told 41 weeks on web chat... But got it done immediately on the phone.

OfflerCrocGod

0044 191 2037 010 I think it matters who answers the phone. I'll start trying more consistently I'd been hoping it would be sorted eventually but it's been months now so I think it's time to start pestering them a bit more.

Widows Son

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122660759#Comment_122660759

Same number I used… I must have been lucky......

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122660187#Comment_122660187

They are swamped with calls from all over the planet with people trying to claim years.Chronically,understaffed.As stated it depends on who answers the phone.A lot of them are still WFH and do not have full system access.

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122659372#Comment_122659372

15 years paid up.That should mean 20 outstanding?It's 35 years to get the full pension amount.32 yrs brings you to 67 years old(the current retirement age dependent on your DOB)) Get clarification.

The Continental Op

Called then again today. 35 minutes on hold. They had payment back in April. Still no update on NI online.

Told that its taking 22 weeks to allocate the money and that all the info is on my account for that to be done. Challenged that and said well April was 22 weeks ago (now nearly October) so then got told after they checked its now 27 weeks for funds to be allocated.

BailMeOut

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122479635#Comment_122479635

Closing the loop here. Applied mid March 2024 and just received approval on making voluntary contributions to catchup via post this morning (2nd October 2024). So just over 7 months to process. Thank you!

biketard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122675325#Comment_122675325

This is a scary amount of time. I just finally filled in my form a couple of weeks ago to see if I qualified for the cheaper repayments. Some of the questions related to dates from over twenty years ago and it was extremely difficult for me to get those dates (had to leave one as a best guess and leave a note to say as much). I'm from Northern Ireland and moved to Scotland in the late 80's, but worked in mainland Europe and Asia for about 17 years. Amazingly, I only have to make up two or three years before I retire, but it's been SO MUCH faff to try to make the voluntary contributions. Just take my money!

I can imagine them extending the deadline for another year because they are clearly not getting through everyone in time.

SCOOP 64

Been a year since my application, spoke to them on phone Friday very apologetic, said they would fast track it now. What ever that means.🙄

BailMeOut

so want to be sure I understand. They said I have 5 qualifying years but need at least 10. To get full benefits I now just need to pay 5 x £824.20 before the time limits? This number increases a littleafter April 2025 but I need 5 payments between now and when I retire?

RCSATELLITES

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122675787#Comment_122675787

No that's definitely not correct. You need at least 10 qualifying years to get the bare minimum, you need 35 years to get the full payment per week. Hope this helps.

Pay the 5 years you have available before April 2025 then continue to pay into the future.

I have 12 years paid and now I am 40 years old. So I will continue to pay for the next 23 years as the class 2 rate of around £170 or so subject to change. 👍

Peckham

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122675787#Comment_122675787

What RCSATELLITES says.

By getting to 10 years you'll qualify for 28.6% of the state pension amount (10 divided by 35), or 63.20 pounds per week on current value.

Each extra qualifying year you pay for will give you an extra 2.86%, or 6.32 pounds per week on current value.

Up to a maximum of 100% naturally.

SuperBowserWorld

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122668841#Comment_122668841

I asked about this. So, if you've made the payment and specified the allocation, before the April deadline you are ok. The guy said if you don't specify the allocation they will allocate based on the letter, presuming you've paid for the specified years.

Me, they sent 2 letters, same date, one for class 2, one for a mixture of class 2/3. Which they acknowledged as an error and will fast track that decision, which could take several weeks. Going to ring them again in November to see what the status is.

techman1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122675787#Comment_122675787

I'm in the same position as you I think, I actually didn't fulfill the minimum 3 year work record in uk, I worked in uk over 2 years but now they said I have 5 years contributions already credited. They showed me a full schedule from 2006 to 2023 if I want to buy back . However they are all at class 3 , 824 pounds per year. Is it the same for you? Did you work and pay prsi on return to Ireland? Some people seem to have been able to qualify for the much cheaper class 2 payments with similar type work records?

Rock Steady Edy

I detailed my work since arriving in Ireland in the noughties; where I was employed or self-employed I was charged Class 2 NI rates and where I was not working for about a year I was charged Class 3 NI rates. It's a bit of a nonsense really, because it's not as if I could claim any extra UK benefits whilst resident and unemployed in Ireland by back paying at Class 3 rates. I'm not sure if others have successfully challenged this distinction?

Peckham

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122677285#Comment_122677285

I think there are other requirements, such as needing to have left the UK when your employment there ceased. If you claimed unemployment benefits before leaving, this may disqualify you from Class 2.

I'm open to correction on this though!

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122677502#Comment_122677502

The distinction is very much worth challenging when you can save £650 a year between paying Class 2 and 3.I will be doing that soon.

beachhead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122677722#Comment_122677722

You could be right.My reading is that you must leave employment in the UK and commence work elsewhere asap to have any chance of paying at Class 2 rates.

jj880

I have 10 years UK state pension at the moment. Ive been offered class 3 for the rest. I worked 8.5 years in NI. Lived there for 1 of those years (2005) but was living in Donegal when I finished working in NI (2011). I had 4 months off before starting work in Donegal. Has anyone in a similar situation managed to get moved to class 2? I know some say its still worth paying class 3 but we have other bills that are higher priority right now...

Technique

I'm in a similar position to you, but have yet to make the application. Under EU law, which the UK were part of, you were officially classed as a Frontier Worker. This means that you are to be treated exactly as a full time resident of the UK.

I would definitely challenge them on that.

jj880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122679535#Comment_122679535

Had a read of the askaboutmoney forum. Seems NIC years should only be class 3 if unemployed after returning to Ireland and class 2 for employed if the rest of class 2 conditions are satisfied. So even if not employed immediately in Ireland after working in NI (like me) OR not employed immediately after moving back to Ireland then its still worth throwing in an appeal letter with PRSI records etc. to get class 2. Even if only to get class 2 going forward as then any class 3 years can be ignored and topped up with class 2 all the way to 100% UK pension if you have enough years before retirement. Think I'll register a letter and send it off. Worst they can do is say no…

RCSATELLITES

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122680080#Comment_122680080

I sent them a letter that I had from the UK employer that stated I left on a certain date and the reason was relocation. I then showed them a letter I received from Revenue to show I was self employed 3 weeks after I returned. Class 2 was approved. The default seems to be class 3 and you then have to prove that you are entitled to class 2. Definitely no harm in trying that's for sure.

beachhead

Write to them asking for Class 2 consideration.I am

griffin100

I’m looking for some advice on completing the CF83 form and would appreciate any help.

Q5 asked if I have lived / worked in the UK for three years prior to leaving. I worked in the UK for 18 months but my HMRC profile shows that this period covered three tax years and for each of those tax years I have a full years national insurance contributions. So do I answer Yes or No to that question? Does it relate to calendar years or tax years?

Re. Q14 about applying to pay voluntary contributions, I assume I tick the box that says ‘both ongoing periods and gaps for previous years’?

For Q22 and Q28 about employment abroad, do I just give me current employer details or do I need to include an additional note with all employers in Ireland since I left the UK? That’s a 30 year period and I wouldn’t be able to remember them all.

Q29 asks about self-empowerment – I was self-employed in Ireland for 18 months during the middle of the 30 year period - should I mention this?

Final question, for payment, I assume it ok’s just to tick the Annual Payment box and do it that way and that this won’t stop me making a lump sum payment to cover back years?

Sorry for all the questions.

OfflerCrocGod

Called again on Thursday after my unsatisfactory call on Friday the week before. Lady who picked up was able to reallocate my payment to the correct 10 year gap instead of all of it to last year. It's now showing up online too and she explained that my direct debit wasn't being taken because the system takes money from the lump sum I sent in until it runs out and starts using the direct debit again. She set it up so that the next direct debit will take a larger sum to cover the whole of this year so I won't have a gap on my record. Unbelievable that it took that long to sort out. I'd recommend calling once a week until people get through to a capable person. The 3 or 4 other people I talked were all useless and said it will be sort in 44 weeks or other ridiculous periods of time. Just keep calling.

beachhead

Griffin100

Always tax years for the CF83

I would go with the HMRC profile and put a yes to Q5.A tick for Q14.For Q22,28 & 29 I would give as much detail as you can remember up to the present and also mention self employment period so as not to leave too many gaps.Maybe it was mentioned on Boards before that Revenue or SW could provide your work record.I'd try Revenue with a call before attempting SW.

Myself,I will lay out dates on seperate sheet beginning with 2024 and working back(probably easier).Any gaps I'll put the years/months and say I was fully employed and paying PRSI etc

Headline the sheet with Employment Record years 19?? to 20?? Adding your NHI number and saying it's an attachment to your CF83 dated ??/??/24

griffin100

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122689324#Comment_122689324

Thanks, that's really helpful. I will get on to Revenue and see if I can get my records. I would never have thought of including additional information with the form.

Widows Son

Can anyone please tell me if the CF83 can be done online now .. I have a friend who is starting the process. Is it just filled in online and printed and posted or all online?Thanks .

Bogwoppit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122696269#Comment_122696269

Filled out and submitted online.

riccol1966

Just read through the 8 pages of posts… didn't see this question answered but perhaps it was..

Does it matter if you are not working AT THE TIME you post or apply online using the CF83 form, but you otherwise meet the requirements of having worked in UK, having qualifying UK pension contributions and left the UK and started work in Ireland immediately afterwards? I wonder if this is the reason I have been asked to pay class 3 on all years.

I have send payslips to them with an another CF83 but it could be Mar24 before I get a reply, based on previous experience. Dangerously close to the deadline! I wonder will they extend it again.