Already retired and claiming UK pension, can I buy extra years?

I lived and worked in UK from 1989 to December 1997, returned home then, and commenced work with an Irish firm in February 1998. I applied for UK pension in November 2023 and was awarded a tiny pension last March based on one years contributions only. Now aged 69, can I pay for extra years and at what rate?

You need to contact DWP.

Patjoe said:

I lived and worked in UK from 1989 to December 1997

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Patjoe said:

was awarded a tiny pension last March based on one years contributions only

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That seems odd assuming that you were paying NI for the c. 9 years. Did they explain this at the time? Did you query it at the time?

I thought you had to have at least ten years to get anything. Not sure how you only get one years worth.
How much pension are you actually receiving?

I have so far been unable to find out how this is calculated, despite two telephone calls to the International Pension Centre. I was informed that a pension had been awarded to me on 14th March last and that a letter had been posted to me that day with details. They could not give me details over the phone or email copy to me, but promised to post another copy to my home address. I rang again last week, as nothing had arrived and was again promised copy in the post, but nothing so far! I have been getting approx €32 per month since last March and last week received a letter dated 1st February to inform me that the pension would be increased to £7.20 (stg) from 9th April next. I tried calling the DWP number shown on thar letter but was left hanging for over an hour without reply.

I finally received copy of letter dated 14 March last which states that I would "normally need 10 qualifying years of UK contributions, but only have one year. They used my Irish insurance to work out the pension I can get under EC law, and my UK and Irish insurance have been added together to satisfy the minimum 10 years". The pension awarded however was only £5.81 wef 29/12/2023, which would appear to be approx 1/35 of the UK pension in 2023. (1) Why was 10/35 not awarded? (2) Am I entitled to buy added years and if so at what rate?
Patjoe

Could it be something to do with blending of the new state pension and the old? Very hard to know, you've read this?

I have just this morning received an email from DWP IPC Review and Recon Team to confirm that I can pay voluntary contributions for the years 2006/7-2020/21, but at Class 3 rate, and must pay for any years up to 2018/2019 within 31 days. I am now 70 years of age and in receipt of a small UK pension based on 1 years NI contributions only since March 2024 (back-dated to 2022). As I was working in Ireland since my return home from UK in 1998, with full Irish PRSI record, I felt I should have been entitled to pay the lower Class 2 rate? The email states "Unfortunately you do not meet the criteria to pay voluntary contributions at the class 2 rate. This is because His Majesty's Revenue and Customs record do not show that you were employed or self-employed in the UK immediately prior to moving abroad". However I was most certainly employed right up to leaving for home in December1997, and actually got a tax refund from the UK sometime after my return, but I cannot now trace the actual refund or exactly when I got it. There is nothing in the email about appealing the class 3 rate, so what should I do next?

To appeal, write a letter and enclose copies of all your back up documentation.