Key Post UK State Pension - Make voluntary contributions to qualify for UK pension on top of Irish pension

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Once you have been approved DannyBoy, that is the key thing. I have paid a few C2s in the last few years without the notice and I have never had an issue..... yet!!
 
today's UK Budget announcement is discussed in a separate thread

2026 UK Budget Changes

Reeves has announced changes for those living abroad and the buying of pension years. "Tax payers money should not be spent on those living abroad..." Need to see bill for details, but she has said that they will abolish access to class 2 contributions for those living abroad. They they will...
www.askaboutmoney.com
 
this news is giving me the push to make my 2024/2025 contribution now even though no letter received

I presume the Revolut HMRC a/c hasn't changed in the past few years?
( Number 12001004 Sort Code 08-32-20)
 
DannyBoyD said:
Folks, I'd be following up on the annual letter & why you're not getting it.
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I called them to ask why I never received any letter this year to pay my class 2 voluntary NIC's for the 2024-25 tax year. I was told that my original CF83 must have only specified payment for previous years and that I would need to complete a new CF83 specifying future years. Very frustrating as I believe this is actually an error made on their part. They said they would send me receipts for the payments I have made thus far.
 
DannyBoyD said:
Make sure to include a cover letter referencing your first application. Did you keep a copy of yr it?
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@DannyBoyD I do indeed still have a copy of my original CF83. See the attached REDACTED copy of my original with all personal info removed. Perhaps I made a mistake in one of my answers in this original CF83?

I also have a copy of my original cover letter in which I clearly stated that I not only wanted to make backdated payments to cover gaps, but that I also wanted to continue to make voluntary overseas contributions for as long as I remain living and working in Ireland.

I remember back at this time there was a step-by-step tutorial here on AAM on how to complete a CF83, so I'm wondering if there is still one that applies given that it is now an online process?
 

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I moved to Ireland in 1992 from the UK where I had been raised and working since 1987. I was 29 yo when I moved over. It's immaterial now, but it appears I could have been paying Class 2 from then, and I would have amassed 35 years of NICs by 2018. My wife by 2016. I had absolutely no idea then you could do this. Even my Dad who was normally really clued up on this kind of stuff never mentioned it. C'est la Vie.
 
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It’s worth checking with HMRC if you get your forms in before April would you still be able to buy around 9 years which should still improve your U.K. state pension even at the class 3 rate it’s still a reasonably good return on your payment (depending on how long you live of course)

Under the new system you can go back 5 years and still pay the years up to age 66.

Not completely lost given than you probably only have 5 years of credits currently and not entitled to anything.
 
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I see my reflective posting could be misleading. I did apply this year as did my wife. We are OK. We won’t get 35 years but not a mile away. The fact I could have done it way back in 92 is a bit mind blowing. Would have been a real challenge with no internet back then.
 
Possibly. They probably had a lot more people working the phones then. Finding out who “they” are would be a challenge though as HMRC didn’t exist.
 
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DannyBoyD said:
So you believe the UK government did not collect tax in the 20th Century?
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I wish. They were called not called HMRC though. That entity was created in 2005.

Back in 1992, NI was administered by the Contributions Agency, part of the Department of Social Security (DSS).
When I came to Ireland I was working with a lot of other British Expats. I am pretty sure none of them were paying voluntary NI contributions. Hardly anybody knew about it. Class 2 has been available to expats for decades and it's probably the recent huge uptake that has led to the November 2025 changes.
 
DannyBoyD said:
1992 was the last decade in the 20th Century; not the middle ages.
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Yes but i doubt there would have been such a large take up of this if the Internet did not exist. Thanks to yourself many people were able to find out all the intricacies and work arounds from sites like this.

In 1992 you might have heard about it on a radio show, Most people wouldn't have bothered just from that. Then you had to ring a uk phone number (very expensive in 1992 if you had a phone) . Then talk to some uk government person, alot would have found that intimidating. If they not understand at that stage they probably not continue with it. So alot of people would have been knocked out from applying by those hurdles. Only the most determined and clued in would have got a successful application in.

In that regard I think the government's will be putting in new obstacles and hurdles since the Internet has done away with the old ones. Hence the recent changes by uk regarding voluntary contributions. Also in Ireland due to the large diaspora that has worked in Ireland, the Irish government will probably be doing likewise regarding access to welfare and pensions.
 
So I called the helpline today for the first time ever. Took me about 30 minutes to get through. I paid my Class 2 Contributions in February 25 and they still don't appear on my NI record. The lady assured me that the payment was received and will appear soon. I asked her could I pay my 25/26 Contributions now and she said I couldn't. I didn't press her on this one but I guess I'll be able to pay them after April 26 for 25/26. It appears that this will then be the last year I can pay Class 2 and that from 2026 onwards I can still pay the Class 3 Contributions as I had more than 10 years residency in the UK. Incidently, once I pay my 25/26 Class 2 contributions I will have 34 years contributions paid and only 1 more year to go to get the full 35 years required - though I still have 6 more years to go till I reach pension age (if I make it that far).
 
One would think HMRC would have provided a bit more clarity regarding the status of Class 2 contributors going forward from 2026. We are all just second guessing tbh.
 
I am from UK, lived there until I was almost 14. Moved to Ireland, but decided to go and work in UK back in 70's but only actually worked there for 5 months although it was a proper, full time job. When I applied for my Old Age Pension back in early '23, there was a question about ever working abroad. I filled in the detail as above and low and behold got a small( very small!) UK pension, so I have a National Insurance number etc. Then earlier this year I heard about the extra payments you can make and enquired. Finally got a response last week, advising me that I can pay up to 16 years contributions(2006-2021) at class 3, to gain £6.58 a week per year paid. Seems like it would take 4 years before I am in credit so not sure if to take it or not.

They asked me to answer about 7 questions to see if I may be eligible for class 2, I responded but not got the reply yet. I have a couple of questions that I would appreciate answers/advice on if anyone has time?

1. Do people think I should be entitled to class 2. I satisfy a condition of living in UK for at least three years, although not as an adult. I had a permanent job in Ireland before moving to UK and transferred back to another permanent job in Ireland after the few months in UK.

2. Is the UK pension we get always a gross figure? Therefore it should be declared in Ireland as additional income on tax return?

3.When paying the HMRC for the extra years , do we just work out the exchange rate € to £ on the day of payment?

Thanks
 
widescreen said:
Do people think I should be entitled to class 2.
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Wait & see what response you get
widescreen said:
2. Is the UK pension we get always a gross figure? Therefore it should be declared in Ireland as additional income on tax return?
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Yes to both questions.
widescreen said:
3.When paying the HMRC for the extra years , do we just work out the exchange rate € to £ on the day of payment?
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Pretty much. You can use Revolut also
 
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