Have you topped up a UK pension to cover gaps?

[Rebus]

I gather that you might be able catch-up to have >10 NI years and still not be eligible for a uk pension when reaching 66+ if you don't meet other requirements, like I think there's minimum number of years having resided in uk?

In the recent UK budget it was announced that ex-pats would no longer be eligible to pay NI contributions at the cheaper Class 2 rates. Instead ex-pats will pay at Class 3 rates. Additionally, in order to qualify to pay Class 3 NI in the first place it will be necessary to have lived in the UK for 10 years.

 

[Brissy1]

In the recent UK budget it was announced that ex-pats would no longer be eligible to pay NI contributions at the cheaper Class 2 rates. Instead ex-pats will pay at Class 3 rates. Additionally, in order to qualify to pay Class 3 NI in the first place it will be necessary to have lived in the UK for 10 years.

"This change comes into effect on 6 April 2026" We've had the phone call and submitted the form, waiting for a reply as to what years, and class, we can top-up. Probably arrive 7 April.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

"This change comes into effect on 6 April 2026" We've had the phone call and submitted the form, waiting for a reply as to what years, and class, we can top-up. Probably arrive 7 April.

As long as you’ve taken action by the required date/before the new rules come into effect it won’t matter when they finally deal with your case.

 

[Brissy1]

Got letters today..."Thank you for applying to pay voluntary Class 3". Forgot to ask for Class 2 if eligible, but don't think we are anyway as 6 months break in leaving uk employment and commencing au employment.
Don't understand the figures, or payment. The 1st letter request £1648 for "arrears due prior to 5/10/25" with Barclays Bank deposit slip. And 2nd (dated next day) request about £15k catch-up 04/2006 to 04/2025 (which is correct based on the 22/23 NI class 3 rate) with tear off slip to attach a cheque!
So 1st letter I don't understand, £1648 arrears. For 6 months 04 to 10 2025? Or for a different period (partial years?) from last century? Anyone received something similar?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Got letters today..."Thank you for applying to pay voluntary Class 3". Forgot to ask for Class 2 if eligible, but don't think we are anyway as 6 months break in leaving uk employment and commencing au employment.
Don't understand the figures, or payment. The 1st letter request £1648 for "arrears due prior to 5/10/25" with Barclays Bank deposit slip. And 2nd (dated next day) request about £15k catch-up 04/2006 to 04/2025 (which is correct based on the 22/23 NI class 3 rate) with tear off slip to attach a cheque!
So 1st letter I don't understand, £1648 arrears. For 6 months 04 to 10 2025? Or for a different period (partial years?) from last century? Anyone received something similar?

No issue with a break after leaving the UK. The periods you work overseas are eligible for class 2, the others at regular rate.

I provided a full working history including all dates for employment and got back a mix of class 2 and regular.

Class 2s only cost me something silly like £170 a year or something. So 10 years was around £1700. Cf regular gap years that would have cost me over £9000 for the same period.

I only paid class 2 ones so will get somewhere over half the pension.

 

[Duffa]

In the recent UK budget it was announced that ex-pats would no longer be eligible to pay NI contributions at the cheaper Class 2 rates. Instead ex-pats will pay at Class 3 rates. Additionally, in order to qualify to pay Class 3 NI in the first place it will be necessary to have lived in the UK for 10 years.

I think the Chancellor has woken up to this golden goose. It must have been costing her squillions. I have paid for 19 years back dated and have two more to contribute - at £1800 (900 per year)
For a £13 a week boost, I think I might pass

 

[kelvedon]

Got letters today..."Thank you for applying to pay voluntary Class 3". Forgot to ask for Class 2 if eligible, but don't think we are anyway as 6 months break in leaving uk employment and commencing au employment.

My understanding is that the qualify for class 2 payments “you worked in the UK immediately before leaving”

Voluntary National Insurance

National Insurance contributions you can choose to pay when you have a gap in your National Insurance record.

www.gov.uk

 

[Brissy1]

No issue with a break after leaving the UK. The periods you work overseas are eligible for class 2, the others at regular rate.

I provided a full working history including all dates for employment and got back a mix of class 2 and regular.

Class 2s only cost me something silly like £170 a year or something. So 10 years was around £1700. Cf regular gap years that would have cost me over £9000 for the same period.

I only paid class 2 ones so will get somewhere over half the pension.

I see, and can only go back to 2006?. MrsB had stopped working by then (she married well I say)

 

[GiggsAbroad]

Got letters today..."Thank you for applying to pay voluntary Class 3". Forgot to ask for Class 2 if eligible, but don't think we are anyway as 6 months break in leaving uk employment and commencing au employment.
Don't understand the figures, or payment. The 1st letter request £1648 for "arrears due prior to 5/10/25" with Barclays Bank deposit slip. And 2nd (dated next day) request about £15k catch-up 04/2006 to 04/2025 (which is correct based on the 22/23 NI class 3 rate) with tear off slip to attach a cheque!
So 1st letter I don't understand, £1648 arrears. For 6 months 04 to 10 2025? Or for a different period (partial years?) from last century? Anyone received something similar?

Check the dates on the letter requesting the £1648 amount. It likely specifies that this is for the period 7/4/2019 to 5/4/2025. I had a similar experience with receiving 2 letters with the first one covering my entire back-pay period (2006-2025) but the second one only covering the most recent prior 6 years.

I recall someone earlier in this chat suggesting that its likely there are 2 separate HMRC departments - one looking after anyone eligible to back-pay the full 2006+ years, and another looking after the standard previous 6 years.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I see, and can only go back to 2006?. MrsB had stopped working by then (she married well I say)

Now you can only go back 6 years.

If you applied before April 2025 you could go back 20 years or something. There was an error in the advice they gave so they had to open it up.

 

[SydneySwan]

PSA. For those who are offered a mixture of class 2 and class 3 payments, remember that only whole years of contributions count. So if you just pay the class 2 bit of a year and pass on the class 3 bit of a year then that year will not count.

 

[Brissy1]

Check the dates on the letter requesting the £1648 amount. It likely specifies that this is for the period 7/4/2019 to 5/4/2025. I had a similar experience with receiving 2 letters with the first one covering my entire back-pay period (2006-2025) but the second one only covering the most recent prior 6 years.

I recall someone earlier in this chat suggesting that its likely there are 2 separate HMRC departments - one looking after anyone eligible to back-pay the full 2006+ years, and another looking after the standard previous 6 years.

Seperate department makes sense; unfortunately the confusing letter advising "Voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions due " and requesting £1648.40 simply states "Arrears due prior to 5/10/25”.

Edit: looking for whole numbers, I find £1648.4 ÷ £15.85 (class 3 weekly rate in 22/23) = exactly 104, so 2 years. So it seems that it is as you thought (but for the previous 2 not 6 years) for the "Arrears due prior to 5/10/25” department, and at the 22/23 rate. And the other letter/department has clear dates, 19 years 9/4/06 to 5/4/25 £15774.20 (although can't find any whole numbers to get that). So I'd be doubling up 1½years. So, if you get 2 letters, they may be partially asking for same catch-up period. Sorry if I'm repeating someone.