UK state pension

I applied to pay for class 2 contributions last year received a letter confirming I can pay class 2 so made my first payment, they acknowledge receiving payment and I was told I will be sent a reminder next year to make further class 2 payments.

Now I have just received this letter saying class 3 payments but amount is €0 , should this be a reminder for class 2 payments, did anyone else get a letter like this.

Hope so, hoping to get a reminder for class 2 now.

Confirmed today that I don't qualify. Credits for student work don't count and didn't have 3 full years of normal contributions.

Disappointing but I told a friend about it today who would qualify and he had no clue so if he gets something I'll be happy.

Sorry so what I was trying to say is I wouldn't accept that response and I would re send the application or send information with your Irish contributions. If you want I can send you the letter that we got with the information regarding the contribution in another EU country. Now it might only give you class 3 as an option but that still very good.

That's no probs I have sent it over to you by pm. 👍

These are my notes from calling HMRC

HMRC paid 17th April 2024 £XXXXX. For years 2010 to 2011 up to and including 2022 to 2023

Called 9th July 2024 > Payment had arrived but details not sent to case worker as no note on account indicating what the payment was for. Informed rep of years to be paid and they said it would go to a case worker and take around 6 weeks or more.

Called 30th September > They have my money and details of the allocation but no one has looked at it yet told its currently taking 27 weeks for this to happen.

Called 20th November 2024 > 55mins on hold. Told they are only now processing money received in December 2023

Called 20th Jan 2025 > 67mins on hold. Allocation showing. Work management item created. This means a case worker can do the allocation. Note on file to send me out a conformation letter when money is allocated. Currently its taking 56 Weeks from receipt of monies before its allocated. If it gets within 6 months of pension age and still not allocated call to get it sorted as they can put it through as a priority.

I was told that they will advise you that it may not be worth paying the full number of years if the final one only makes a few pence difference your actual pension.

Did they respond to your first letter?

hi all, newbie to the conversation. I worked in the UK from '92 to '99

Will read through this thread now. See the impending deadline.

QQ - any experts know if it would be worth my while to apply? TIA

Once you get the application in before April 2025 then you are fine. They have extended it numerous of times but not sure if they will anymore. But once the application is in before April then even if they take months to get back, you will be fine.

If you can prove you worked there and paid at least 3 years national insurance contributions which you said you have and the other thing to prove is.

You started a job abroad "immediately" after leaving the UK.

If you can prove this then you can pay the cheaper class 2 payment which is only around £160 per year compared to the class 3 which is around £800.

You can claim back all the way to 2006 so looks like you could get 19 years to date. On top of the already 8 or so years you should have. You are looking at around £150 per week (if you don't pay in the future) when retired on top of the Irish pension.

Look at it another way if you pay full contributions and live to the age of 76 its worth around £150,000.

£221.20 a week £11,502.4 a year and with the minimum 2.5% yearly increase thats about £150k over 10 years.

If anyone wants to correct my maths thats fine by me ;-)

The Government Gateway site will show you your contributions to date and what this equates to at retirement age.

Just out of curiosity, how come you both didn't continue to pay voluntary contributions back then? I worked 2012 to 2015 and was put off by the default class 3 costs. I don't think they had the class 2 very well advertised, (and we know why). 😊

Anyway you can definitely join the website which I have attached, it's the one you mentioned and someone else. It is a pain but myself and my wife managed to get past the residence when living on Ireland. Also see there is another option about filling in a form and posting it. Might be the best option as you will have something in writing and no need to be on the phone for hours.

Ignore that mine says the same. Once you are cleared for Class 2 payments and let HMRC know what you are paying then you are covered. btw they may not get around to allocating your payment until December 2025!

Paid 4 years of Class 2 today (and ideally will continue to pay these in annuity) via Revolut using the steps and account details @ https://www.gov.uk/pay-class-2-national-insurance/make-online-telephone-bank-transfer

which meant using your National insurance Number + IC + Surname/First Initial as the reference.

I had no way of being able to associate the payments with any given years - so hopefully they will "simply" be taken as paying for all historical 'gaps'.

Ideally next I can get a Direct Debit set up to handle this payment each year now for the next 20 or so to get me the full pension in 2055!