Pensions experts need help please

[scaryteacher]

Ok, here goes.

Currently receiving HRP credits towards state pension entitlement. This will cease from April as ds is over 12. I live abroad, accompanying dh who is Armed Forces. I am trying to establish if I need to start paying voluntary NICs and how much.

Have looked at the HMRC website and found that on the ni38 leaflet (bottom of page 1) that special arrangements apply to a member of a service family abroad (that's me). When I phone them trying to find out what the special arrangements are, I hit the HMRC shoulder slope; the 'we don't know nothing, just pay' response, and the write in (which means we will do our damnedest not to answer you), been there and done that already without reply.

If I have to pay NICs, then OK, but if I don't have to, or there is a reduced contribution as I can't work in UK as am abroad with dh, then I need to find out what. Can anyone help?

I haven't got a clue but DH is a pensions manager and we live abroad so one would hope he would know
He has just nipped to the shop but should be back in 10 mins and I will ask him then. (pretty sure he pays voluntary NI as due to where we live we don't pay tax and NI so there must be a reason he does that).

DH here, I think that as your DH is paid by Mrs Windsor you should be able to pay class 2 NI Conts at about 11 quid per month. download a BR19 from the NI Website and send off, that will come back saying this is were you are and this is were you could be and the cost is X

Thanks; I got told I'd have to pay class 3. I have 25/30 years needed for full state pension, so I am trying to work out on class 3s at £600+ for 5 years if it is worth it for the approx £11 per week difference in pension; bearing in mind dh gets an excellent pension (providing UK PLC stays in business) and I have a Local Government pension of 7.5 years, and 5 years contribution to the Teachers Pension Scheme.