Key Post Step by step guide to applying for UK State Pension

[mick999]

CF83 can be completed totally online, I did it for my wife last week at

Guidance – Guidance – GOV.UK

www.tax.service.gov.uk

There is also a section on website where you can fill in same information and print out and post, Make sure that you are in correct section.

Once submitted you will see a submission date etc..

And a few days later, it should appear in your submitted forms:

 

[Threadser]

Many people are stumbling at this step. Rather than waste time; if, for whatever reason it's proving tricky, the best advice is to print the CF83 and send it by recorded delivery.

The most important thing is to get your claim in by 5th April.

I agree that the most important thing is to get your application in by 5th of April, however the information at the start of the Keypost is incorrect. The online form does not have to be printed and posted if you have verified your ID. If this is a problem for you, then definitely post it before the deadline. The online route is much quicker though, for those who can access it.

 

[Threadser]

Disadvantage is you can't explain any variations or complexities.

There is a box at the end of the online form which allows you to add additional information to your application. I am not sure how much text it allows, but you can certainly get a few sentences by way of explanation.

 

[landlord]

I paid my Class 2, 18 year shortfall a few days ago and when I was in the UK, I had to phone them a few times to ask questions.
I was told because of an absolutely massive backlog there is now up to a 63 week delay before payments are processed and you can visibly see online that the missing years have been filled.

 

[mmclo]

There is a box at the end of the online form which allows you to add additional information to your application. I am not sure how much text it allows, but you can certainly get a few sentences by way of explanation.

Yes that's true. I suspect it is useful (though not required) to send PRSI records from Ireland too so I'm doing that by hardcopy.

 

[AJ1]

Can anyone tell me the phone number they used to contact uk about their NI contributions? Tried to ring just now and after five minutes of saying various things, the message was it's very busy , try again another time. There was no option to hold.

 

[DannyBoyD]

phone number

Listed on website, but exceptionally busy.

 

[Peckham]

phone number

I use +441912037010

Lines open at 8am. Ring then for best chance of getting through. I rang at 8.10am on Wednesday and was on hold for 50 minutes.

 

[landlord]

I called HMRC +443002003500 (3 times) on Tuesday and the wait time was no longer than 15 minutes each time.

 

[Joshua1]

Apply for a Gateway ID
I am trying to apply for my gateway ID. I have my national insurance number, it accepted my passport but it couldn't be verified, probably because my maiden name is on my national insurance record from 30 years, and my married name is on my passport. Is there anyway around this ?

 

[DannyBoyD]

Is there anyway around this

No need to register, just print off the form and send it off - UK Pension

an overview of the process Keep it simple. Print off CF83, fill it in & post by recorded delivery - 20 mins work. You can faff about with the online registration after you've done that.

www.askaboutmoney.com

 

[John7]

@ Threadser great you got the response. Did you provide your Irish work details e.g. proof of contribution statement on return to Ireland. Is this required? Thanks for all the valuable information everyone.

 

[DannyBoyD]

proof of contribution statement on return to Ireland. Is this required

Not on first application, if they need more info they'll ask.

 

[Threadser]

Threadser great you got the response. Did you provide your Irish work details e.g. proof of contribution statement on return to Ireland. Is this required? Thanks for all the valuable information everyone.

No @John7 I didn't have to send any proof of this. My application was probably straightforward in that I have worked for the same employer (department of education) since I returned to Ireland in 1992! The dates I inputted in the form were approximate as it is such a long time ago. I explained this in the box at the end of the form which allows you to put in additional information if required to support your application.

 

[mmclo]

My circumstances are that I worked for 2 years in the UK from June 90 to July 92. Luckily these 2 years spanned 3 tax years and with the 3 juvenile years, my record says that I have 6 credited years.

Is the fact that they were spread over 3 tax years significant I wonder, mine were over 4 but shorter periods. I think Irish PRSI sometimes give some credits for incomplete periods?

Did the Juvenile credits count towards class 2 eligibility I wonder or just eligibility years if you follow? They seem to say "paid" contributions a lot although one site says "treated as paid" although that seems to be self employment

 

[Threadser]

Is the fact that they were spread over 3 tax years significant

Yes I would think so. I obviously earned enough in my two incomplete years for them to be counted as full. in my last year, I only worked for 4 months (April to July) but it is listed as a full year. I am not sure if the juvenile credits counted for class 2 eligibility, as I would have qualified for that anyway on the basis of my three paid (if incomplete) years. My record shows 6 years despite only working in the UK for two years and one month! I would say to everyone to just apply regardless, and let them come back to you with their decision. You can always appeal if you are unhappy.

 

[Debtntaxis]

Hi, my situation is I worked in UK from Sept ‘92 to Feb ‘94. I always thought I was ineligible, however possibly not. On q5 of section 1 of form CF83, I can answer yes to ‘Have you lived in the UK for 3 years in a row at any time before living or working abroad?’ However q6 asks ‘Have you paid 3 full years of NICs before living or working abroad?’ I assume I have to answer no here? Will this immediately reject my application? On return to Ireland I have worked with the same company, and have a full PRSI records - does the EU record help here?

 

[Zobeda]

Apply anyway, and quickly. If they reject, they reject. But if they don't then you'll know for sure and won't die wondering.

If, say, they accept the application but only at class 3 rates, then you'll need to work out the risk / reward as applicable to your own particular circumstances.

 

[DannyBoyD]

Have you paid 3 full years of NICs before living or working abroad

Answer yes, let them say otherwise.

Don't forget UK tax year is not a calendar year; they still, rather quaintly, operate April-March.

 

[ParnellMc]

Have just completed a draft CF83 online. A few queries before I hit send. Thanks in advance for any help.

When they ask for your employment details "for the period abroad you are applying for", they mean from April 2006 on, correct? And there is no need to list jobs pre-2006.

I was, of course, asked about my last job in the UK but I was surprised not to be quizzed on my activity immediately after leaving the UK (in 1991). Am I missing something or have the conditions for Class 2 have been tweaked and the requirement to have started work on arrival abroad (eg Ireland) is no longer there?

re "Do you intend to return to the UK to live in the future?": Is there anything wrong with saying No or is I Do Not Know a safer answer?

Under "Further Information" I am saying I will also post them the form and attach a printout of my work record from Spanish social security - there is no way of attaching a pdf file, right? Thinking it's better to do this than wait on a letter asking me for proof.

I have been self-employed since 2012 but 2005-2012 I was doing contract work on and off for one business (more off than on, tbh). Should I list this as the four separate "jobs" they were or just one (2005 to 2012)? The above-mentioned printout gives the dates of each contract.