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Original poster

National insurance contributions.

90 replies

BusterGonad · 15/02/2023 06:50

Hello. I'm looking to make voluntary NI contributions as I'm living abroad. I have been for 4 or 5 years. I've previously filled the form out and sent it off. They did not return the form (maybe it got lost in the post) and the direct debit didn't get set up, I know they received my forms as a friend posted them in the UK and my details were correct up to date online. I have no idea what happened and why the direct debit didn't go ahead. Can anyone help as I'm unsure if I ticked the right box. Do I want to pay NI class 2 or class 3? Maybe this is why it got rejected? I just wish I could do this all online as posting from thousands of miles away amd waiting for a letter which may not even arrive is ridiculous. Does anyone know of a way to get my missed payments bill sent online?

OP posts:
averylongtimeago · 15/02/2023 08:22

I've just been through this.
Phone the international number … + 44 191 203 7010. It took me several goes to get through then 49 minutes in hold, so be patient.

If you are self employed, with work in the U.K., it's class 2 contributions and you can back date any missing years back to year ending 2017. Otherwise it's class 3, and hurry up to apply as from April you won't be able to go back further than 2916.

They will work out what you need to pay (you might have to fill in the application form and send it off) and then you will be given an 18 digit code and details of how to pay. If you pay in without the code your payment may be allocated to the wrong account.

It did take me several sessions: original phone call (all morning) , waiting until I had a pension statement, then another afternoon on the phone but I got it sorted.
Once you actually get through, the staff are very helpful and will talk you through what to do.

Original poster
BusterGonad · 15/02/2023 08:27

@averylongtimeago thank you. That is helpful. I'm going to have to go ahead and use the post for now amd hope I get a reply. It for my husbands missed payments and I very much doubt after waiting for 45 mins and spending £££ that they will actually talk to me.

OP posts:
hedgehoglurker · 15/02/2023 08:31

I think it can be Class 2 if living and working overseas.

I'd been hoping to pay Class 2 for two partial years that I have from living overseas for 18m. But, as I didn't work when there, I was only eligible for Class 3 - which was too expensive to justify paying.

Christmascracker0 · 15/02/2023 08:32

The easiest thing to do is call them, you’ll probably be on hold for a while but they are really helpful.

Original poster
BusterGonad · 15/02/2023 08:41

hedgehoglurker · 15/02/2023 08:31

I think it can be Class 2 if living and working overseas.

I'd been hoping to pay Class 2 for two partial years that I have from living overseas for 18m. But, as I didn't work when there, I was only eligible for Class 3 - which was too expensive to justify paying.

So you are living abroad and they wouldn't allow to pay class 2 because you weren't working? So if you work overseas you pay class 2 if you don't you pay class 3. Did you ring them up to ask?

OP posts:
Original poster
BusterGonad · 15/02/2023 08:42

Christmascracker0 · 15/02/2023 08:32

The easiest thing to do is call them, you’ll probably be on hold for a while but they are really helpful.

I haven't really got the money at the moment to justify a £30 phone call. 😬

OP posts:
Natins · 15/02/2023 08:48

averylongtimeago · 15/02/2023 08:22

I've just been through this.
Phone the international number … + 44 191 203 7010. It took me several goes to get through then 49 minutes in hold, so be patient.

If you are self employed, with work in the U.K., it's class 2 contributions and you can back date any missing years back to year ending 2017. Otherwise it's class 3, and hurry up to apply as from April you won't be able to go back further than 2916.

They will work out what you need to pay (you might have to fill in the application form and send it off) and then you will be given an 18 digit code and details of how to pay. If you pay in without the code your payment may be allocated to the wrong account.

It did take me several sessions: original phone call (all morning) , waiting until I had a pension statement, then another afternoon on the phone but I got it sorted.
Once you actually get through, the staff are very helpful and will talk you through what to do.

This is excellent advice and mirrors my experience. It’s best for your other half to call them - they are very helpful on the phone. The overseas helpline is a standard uk landline so you should be able to find an online way to call for less than 30 quid.

hedgehoglurker · 15/02/2023 08:53

BusterGonad · 15/02/2023 08:41

So you are living abroad and they wouldn't allow to pay class 2 because you weren't working? So if you work overseas you pay class 2 if you don't you pay class 3. Did you ring them up to ask?

Show quote history

You need to meet certain criteria to be able to pay Class 2 when living and working overseas. I didn't call, as I looked further into the eligibility for Class 2 on the gov.uk website, and found I didn't qualify.

Original poster
BusterGonad · 15/02/2023 08:59

@hedgehoglurker how did you come to that conclusion as to me it is very unclear.

OP posts:
CatOnTheChair · 15/02/2023 08:59

Buster are you both coming back to the UK for a holiday later this year? It might be easier to wait til then, and phone from the UK.
You won't be able to do it on behalf of your husband on the phone.

Versailles2023 · 15/02/2023 09:00

Okay so I lived abroad and did it over the phone and online banking never had to send a letter in. Ring them up. Discuss which years you buy back will actually make a difference in my case because of my age and the change of pension rules some years pre 2016 did not benefit my pension payout. Get a reference number from the person on the phone and then transfer online using this reference number. You need to get a different reference number and you can only get this by ringing them. My years were all credited within 6 weeks of online payment.Very easy to find the information online, then telephone them then transfer online. Good luck 🍀

Versailles2023 · 15/02/2023 09:04

Think you have to pay something like £800.00 for full missed years too so five years will be around £4000.00 but you need advice because I could have paid for part years pre 2016 which was cheaper however because if the pension change in 2016 even if I bought these cheaper years it didn’t increase my pension you have to talk to them so they can go through the formulae and work out which years are the best to buy.

Original poster
BusterGonad · 15/02/2023 09:04

@Natins I'm not savvy with apps that make calls to the UK cheaper, what would you suggest please. I'm not being sarcastic, I genuinely do not know.

OP posts:
Original poster
BusterGonad · 15/02/2023 09:06

@Versailles2023 many thanks. That's really helpful. 😊

OP posts:
Versailles2023 · 15/02/2023 09:06

Do they not have cheap international call add ons you can buy in your country ? We always had international call coverage which was free or very cheap.

Versailles2023 · 15/02/2023 09:09

In the uk I use 123 dial in www.dial123.co.uk/ just have to look for something similar in your country. You might be waiting for a long time to speak to someone but you need the reference number from them it’s not just your tax number it’s a different one they generate.

averylongtimeago · 15/02/2023 09:10

I also had to sort out my husband's contributions as well, and no, they won't let you talk in his behalf. DH had to confirm his identity every time we were transferred to a different department.
It took a long time, but phoning is the best option- the staff are very helpful when you actually get through.
You will need your national insurance number and they will ask for your dob and possibly your previous U.K. address and post code. They also asked DH the date of our marriage (he didn't get it right!😂)

I used my mobile- I'm in the EU- and it has free calls to U.K. landlines so it wasn't expensive. Perhaps it would be worth looking for a SIM card with a similar package?

They told us that every extra year you pay adds £5.25 approx a week onto your pension amount.

If you have to fill in the application form and you think it's got lost in the post, could you send it back with anyone going to the U.K. for them to post when they get back?

Ohifyouinsist · 15/02/2023 09:18

If you have decent internet where you are, download the Skype app and use that to make your call. I had to call Canada from the EU recently and that's how I did it.

tribpot · 15/02/2023 09:18

When I need to call abroad, I use Skype, I think I get a certain amount of credit for free with my Office 365 subscription.

hedgehoglurker · 15/02/2023 09:20

BusterGonad · 15/02/2023 08:59

@hedgehoglurker how did you come to that conclusion as to me it is very unclear.

It's on the NI38 form. Firstly you need to be sure you aren't obliged to pay Class 1 (page 6). Then p9-10 explains the criteria for Class 2 or 3.

The website had wrongly stated "living overseas," so I looked further, but quickly discovered you needed to be working too, so I was ineligible for Class 2.

My Pension Forecast shows I still have the option of Class 3 for my 2 incomplete years, but I'm mid 40's so have time to make my full 35 years without paying those gaps.

Original poster
BusterGonad · 15/02/2023 09:23

Thank you everyone, I'll download Skype.
To answer a few questions I did sent the initial letter from the uk (with a friend) but for some reason the direct debit never got set up. I never received my missing payments bill in the post. I was loving in South East Asia and I'm not surprised really. I'll resend my direct debit form in and I'll tick the Class 3 box and see how it goes. 😬😁

OP posts:
Natins · 15/02/2023 10:07

Tick class 2. The worst that can happen is they say no!

Badbadbunny · 15/02/2023 10:15

Natins · 15/02/2023 10:07

Tick class 2. The worst that can happen is they say no!

Class 2 is for self employed.

Natins · 15/02/2023 10:17

Badbadbunny · 15/02/2023 10:15

Class 2 is for self employed.

Show quote history

Are you overseas?

Original poster
BusterGonad · 15/02/2023 10:41

Okay. So after reading various expat financial help websites, it looks like my husband who works (overseas) should pay Class 2 and me who doesn't work (but lives overseas) should pay 3. I hope I'm right on this one.

OP posts: