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

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Patjoe

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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?
 
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
 
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