UK pensions

[armaghniac]

If you have the 3 years credit, and do not manage to add the required years, then you can still add these years in when claiming your Irish pension. When combining different systems there is no 10 minimum, although you might not get very much.

[marty34]

You need minimum of ten years contributions to qualify for a partial pension. Between 16 and finishing school you'll have received credit, so I imagine like me you'll get 3 qualifying years.

You can choose to voluntarily pay contributions like a lot of us did a few months back to make up the shortfall, although you can now only go back six years and they're closing the loophole where you can pay a cheaper class.

Did the one close in April?

It can't be re-visited again now?

[armaghniac]

You need minimum of ten years contributions to qualify for a partial pension. Between 16 and finishing school you'll have received credit, so I imagine like me you'll get 3 qualifying years.

You can choose to voluntarily pay contributions like a lot of us did a few months back to make up the shortfall, although you can now only go back six years and they're closing the loophole where you can pay a cheaper class.

Did the one close in April?

It can't be re-visited again now?

Before April you could buy back years 2006-2019, which I did. But you can still go back 6 years.

[marty34]

You need minimum of ten years contributions to qualify for a partial pension. Between 16 and finishing school you'll have received credit, so I imagine like me you'll get 3 qualifying years.

You can choose to voluntarily pay contributions like a lot of us did a few months back to make up the shortfall, although you can now only go back six years and they're closing the loophole where you can pay a cheaper class.

Did the one close in April?

It can't be re-visited again now?

Before April you could buy back years 2006-2019, which I did. But you can still go back 6 years.

Ahh, ok. Thanks.

And what would that get you roughly?

[RedHand88]

If you end up with 10+ years in both North and south are you entitled to both full pensions?

[gallsman]

You need minimum of ten years contributions to qualify for a partial pension. Between 16 and finishing school you'll have received credit, so I imagine like me you'll get 3 qualifying years.

You can choose to voluntarily pay contributions like a lot of us did a few months back to make up the shortfall, although you can now only go back six years and they're closing the loophole where you can pay a cheaper class.

Did the one close in April?

It can't be re-visited again now?

Before April you could buy back years 2006-2019, which I did. But you can still go back 6 years.

Ahh, ok. Thanks.

And what would that get you roughly?

(Your qualifying years/number of years required for full pension [currently 35])* State pension.

State pension is currently £230 a week. The minimum qualifying amount of 10 years would get you (10/35)*230, or 80 quid a week.

[gallsman]

Followed up with them today after checking my NI record for the first time in a while. I made a payment on September 1st last year to add 13 qualifying years. My wife made a subsequent, late and past deadline payment to add 4 years to her record. Hers were processed and added to her record in no time at all but there was no sign of mine.

I used their online chat and it took about 5 mins max for them to confirm that payment had been received but they still had to allocate it and it would be done asap. Show me the money!

[TwoUpTwoDown]

     33  ,      4yy1646     ryey4      4                                                                                                        xxx               ¹  1                                                                                                                ,                                             ,                                                                                      23y y,                                   

[gallsman]

Followed up with them today after checking my NI record for the first time in a while. I made a payment on September 1st last year to add 13 qualifying years. My wife made a subsequent, late and past deadline payment to add 4 years to her record. Hers were processed and added to her record in no time at all but there was no sign of mine.

I used their online chat and it took about 5 mins max for them to confirm that payment had been received but they still had to allocate it and it would be done asap. Show me the money!

Sorted 24 hours later. Solid investment I reckon.

[dec]

The rules have changed for contributions from abroad

https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions/if-you-live-or-work-abroad

"You cannot pay voluntary Class 2 National Insurance contributions for time abroad.
You can apply to pay Class 3 contributions for time spent abroad after 5 April 2026"

Class 2 are the cheaper ones, less that 200 pounds per year
Class 3 are over 900 per year, may still be a good deal but not as great as it was before

You can still catch up for prior years at the cheaper rate

[gallsman]

Anyone who has been paying Class 3 should get a letter from them about it.

[armaghniac]

The rules have changed for contributions from abroad

https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-insurance-contributions/if-you-live-or-work-abroad

"You cannot pay voluntary Class 2 National Insurance contributions for time abroad.
You can apply to pay Class 3 contributions for time spent abroad after 5 April 2026"

Class 2 are the cheaper ones, less that 200 pounds per year
Class 3 are over 900 per year, may still be a good deal but not as great as it was before

You can still catch up for prior years at the cheaper rate

I'm surprised that it took them so long to cop on, although I was class 3 all along.

[dec]

Anyone who has been paying Class 3 should get a letter from them about it.

I did a few weeks ago

[gallsman]

Burnham confirms that he plans to abandon the triple lock to pay for their social care plan.

[Pub Bore]

Burnham confirms that he plans to abandon the triple lock to pay for their social care plan.

It's going to be in the Labour manifesto for the next election (scheduled for 2029).  He's proposing a double lock.