Topping up UK State Pension

[greenmonkey]

Hello,

 

Looking for some general advice about topping up missed contributions to my UK state pension. For my sins I have been in the UK since 2023. Before that I was in Thailand 2015 to 2023, I was working a mixture of English teaching (cash in hand) and online work (using paypal) - all of these years are obviously showing as incomplete years for my UK state pension. I am looking at making voluntary contributions. However, I do not know if it is best to tell them (HMRC) I was not working for the period abroad or if to tell them I was working self-employed for the period. I don't know how it affects their decision-making and I don't know if they will ask for documents to prove I was working self-employed whilst in Thailand (i.e. taxes paid in Thailand). My knowledge about this stuff is pretty bad... anyone who can advise? TIA

[CharlieH]

MOVED to UK Forum

[steve187]

class 3 ( voluntary) contributions are about £17 per week, class 2 (self employed ) are about £3.50 per week.

you only have until 5th April to  pay for any gaps older than 6 years, there are rules that govern paying class 2 when working overseas. see here - https://www.gov.uk/pay-class-2-national-insurance/if-you-work-or-live-abroad

[Kinnock]

I topped up to receive full pension after calculating that even with the frozen pension I would benefit if I live to 75+.

 

You need to calculate the potential benefit versus the cost.

 

Of course you also need to assume the UK will not be bankrupted by illegal immigrant hotel costs, destroyed in a nuclear war with Russia (or US or both) or hit be an asteroid.

 

[scubascuba3]

You can do it online, i have 3 years missing, not a big deal, in the future it may end up being means tested so could be a waste of time and money, I'll decide nearer the time

[sammieuk1]

And don't forget if you receive or it takes you over £12,570 pa you pay tax at 20%  🤔

[Upnotover]

Did you already do the online pension forecast?  (https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension)  That will tell you how many years you need to add to get the full pension.  I have many missing years but still qualify for the full pension, no need to top up anything.

[steve187]

On 3/31/2025 at 8:31 PM, Kinnock said:

I topped up to receive full pension after calculating that even with the frozen pension I would benefit if I live to 75+.

 

You need to calculate the potential benefit versus the cost.

 

Of course you also need to assume the UK will not be bankrupted by illegal immigrant hotel costs, destroyed in a nuclear war with Russia (or US or both) or hit be an asteroid.

 

a NIC class 3 stamp is £17.45 weekly, paying for 1 year, would add £ 6.88 weekly to your pension, so 2.5 years to draw even, live to be older than 70 to gain.

a class 2 stamp of £3.45 weekly (£180 per year ) would take receiving the increased amount for 6 months to draw even.

[phetphet]

You only have until 5th April to notify that you wish to top up. However if you phone before then, they will register you, and even if it takes a few months for them to get around to it you will be OK. But you do need to register before the 5th.

 

I don't think they will be bothered whether you were working or not. They are only interested in if you paid into any other social security system or made any payments to the UK system or perhaps any tax due.

.

 

HTH

[cmsally]

1 hour ago, phetphet said:

You only have until 5th April to notify that you wish to top up. However if you phone before then, they will register you, and even if it takes a few months for them to get around to it you will be OK. But you do need to register before the 5th.

 

I don't think they will be bothered whether you were working or not. They are only interested in if you paid into any other social security system or made any payments to the UK system or perhaps any tax due.

.

 

HTH

Do you have details of the phone number and what info. is needed?

[phetphet]

2 hours ago, cmsally said:

Do you have details of the phone number and what info. is needed?

You can fill in the form at this address to ask for a call back.

It should register you just by completing and returning it.  

 

https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/request-a-call-back-to-pay-voluntary-national-insurance-contributions/contact-form

 

Or try the UK Pension Service on one of these numbers for advice:

Telephone: 0800 731 0469
Textphone: 0800 731 0464

 

[cmsally]

For anyone who wants to apply before the deadline, go to the gov.uk website and search for CF83 form.

Click on Apply to pay voluntary National Insurance contributions when abroad (CF83)

 

Find the green button (seen below) almost at the bottom of the page - (start now)

Apply to pay

Get all of your information together before you start.

Start now

 

It will load the online process - you will need a govt. gateway ID and password to enter (set one up if you don't have one)

 

PS the form is a bit confusing at first because it is in sections and will be marked (can't start, not completed)

You have to select one section at a time. Once you get going it becomes obvious.

Once you have completed the 7 sections you will be able to submit it.

You will then get a confirmation with a green box and a reference number.

If you get this number before the deadline you can still pay for all the missing years.

 

Hope this is fairly clear.

 

 

 

[SMIAI]

Concerns over a rush of last-minute enquiries mean anyone who requests a call back from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on the issue will not be regarded as having missed the 5 April deadline.

 

People can currently make voluntary extra contributions to plug National Insurance gaps back to 2006.

But, after April's deadline, this will be limited to the previous six years only.

Some people may have spaces in their National Insurance record if, for example, they have lived abroad or taken time off for caring responsibilities.

In general, people need 35 years of qualifying contributions to get the full state pension.

Top-ups have been permitted, as part of the transition to the flat-rate state pension, which was introduced in 2016.

Currently, these can go back for nearly 20 years, but are due to return to the normal six years after April 5th.

 

If you currently click 'view details' on any years for which you might want to make voluntary contributions, you automatically get another month to pay.

 

People wanting more breathing space to buy top-ups should therefore request a callback as aforementioned, or click on 'view details' on years they might want to buy on their NI record, or do both.

 

[cmsally]

Personally I would not trust the callback, as the only thing you have is a screenshot and no verification of who asked for the call back.

Whereas if you do the online form you get an email notification with your name, proof of date and submission reference number.