About to pay voluntary UK national insurance contributions

Moved to Ireland from the UK 15 years ago and I've worked in Ireland consistently since then except a period of unemployment in 2009. I have 7 full years NI contributions up to 2005 from employment before moving here, with 15 years missing. I applied to HMRC using form NI38/CF83 and I got a reply to say I can pay class 2 for each each of the missing 15 years, except the period of unemployment in 2009 of which class 3 will apply. Total quote to buy back all 15 years for a little of £2500.00. That'll bring me up to 22 years towards the 35 needed for a full UK state pension. From April 2022, they'll send me an invoice each year to pay class 2 as long as I'm working in Ireland. If I stop working, I need to let them know as it'll be class 3 in that case.

I've got to 2023 to pay voluntary contributions between 2006 and 2016, I then lose them forever. I'm settled in Ireland, so have no plans on moving back to the UK. Now, I know the SP might not be there by the time I reach SPA, but it could be, none of us know for sure.

Based on the facts we have right now, it seems to be a worthwhile investment to make, am I missing something though? From what I've read in previous posts, I should be able to claim both UK and Irish state pensions (based on today's rules of course). I'll also have the expected 40 years contributions in Ireland by the time I hit my early to mid 60s.

Is this too good to be true?

thanks

It seems actually not too good to be true. My own experience is similar.

Don't pass up this opportunity for back payments and pay every year from now on.

Do it, well worth the money.

As soon as you pay in your money, write a letter asking for a receipt. Responses are amazingly slow, but you will eventually get a reply.

Thirsty said:

As soon as you pay in your money, write a letter asking for a receipt.

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I was going to do this but got one automatically after about four weeks.

Will you get the two full pensions paid to you or will the Irish one be reduced as you have the other income?

You are entitled to both; income tax is due in the usual way.

Theres also a handy uk gove portal, for when you are up and running with contributions, where you can check your contributions to date and your entitlement. Cant recall the web address

I tried that a few years ago but you had to have a UK postal address to sign up - only available to UK residents effectively

Maybe it has changed since

I was able to get logged in using my national insurance number. If you google UK pension forecast it'll give you the option to create an account. When i was set up I noticed all my personal details were already there - including Irish address etc. I suspect that was from having to renew my UK drivers licence a few years back when it expired. It's very handy. Shows full record of NI contributions paid and missing. For the missing years it shows the amount due in class 3 for buying back. It also has a handy form tracker so when i sent my application to pay voluntary contributions i noticed 2 days later that they had received it - it then moved to a 'processing' status for about 6 weeks.

jpd said:

I tried that a few years ago but you had to have a UK postal address to sign up - only available to UK residents effectively

Maybe it has changed since

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I think I found the same - have to rely on snail mail. I see from @NoRegretsCoyote that they are starting to send receipts; I've always had to write for them up to now.

I tried to set that up but it needed a UK address, at least for initial set-up.

jpd said:

I tried that a few years ago but you had to have a UK postal address to sign up - only available to UK residents effectively

Maybe it has changed since

Click to expand...

I managed to use my last UK address, but it was reasonably recent.

Is there a minimum length of time you have to pay NI in the UK, to be eligible to continue to pay class 2/3, after you leave?

Can you top up your UK state pension OR transfer years from UK to ROI to improve your Irish state pension OR do a mix of both?

mojoask said:

Is there a minimum length of time you have to pay NI in the UK, to be eligible to continue to pay class 2/3, after you leave?

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I think its 3 years

ArthurMcB said:

I think its 3 years

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Check this with them. They let me pay Class 3 after only working in the UK ten months.

NoRegretsCoyote said:

Check this with them. They let me pay Class 3 after only working in the UK ten months.

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All published docs I've seen indicate three years minimum in the UK.

@NoRegretsCoyote wonder was there some extenuating circumstance that allowed you to get approved for less?

I worked in the UK for a little under two years in the 90's but thought I would be ineligible for voluntary NI contributions.

Thanks
Stan

My own record was projected to be £86pw which I can increase to £168pw in 14 years time.

The current class 2 rate that I pay is about £159pa so I need to pay just over £2,200 in todays money over the coming years to enhance my own pension by an additional £4264pa which can also be inherited by my wife and is currently payable in addition to my Irish state pension.

You really would struggle to find a better way of putting aside some money.

I'd love to hear from anyone who is successfully drawing two state pensions , UK and Ireland, especially if one of them is full.
I'll have enough for a full UK one, and easily qualify for a partial Irish one .