Why are some people not getting a letter telling them that they must apply for Class 3?

[Brendan Burgess]

Apply to pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions for periods abroad

Use this form to apply to pay voluntary Class 3 National Insurance contributions if you've received a letter from HMRC.

www.gov.uk

This is very clear. Don't apply unless you get a letter.

Yet, there is an April deadline so people would be anxious about not getting the letter and missing the deadline.

The obvious solution is to apply anyway.

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/threads/i-didnt-receive-the-class-3-letter-but-applied-anyway-and-it-was-accepted.244564/

But does anyone know why some people are not being written to? Is there any pattern?

 

[DannyBoyD]

anyone know why some people are not being written to? Is there any pattern

Unless you didnt check the box in your original app to make future payments?

In any event, if you were expecting a letter & didn't get one, I'd be making a call.

 

[nephster]

As the OP on the other thread... I still haven't received any correspondence. Literally the only letter I've ever received from them was the initial one setting out acceptance at Class 2 back at the start.
Last time I rang (which was after I'd made the lump sum deposit for those Class 2 years, so a good while back) I queried this but they were unable to give me any reason.
My address is correct in the system and AFAIK I didn't state anything to do with this on my initial application.
So go figure

 

[atgate]

Datapoint: OH didn't get the letter, called them, they said they'd send it. Never arrived. Applied anyway and it's showing as "completed"

 

[dillsquatt]

I never received a letter either but after ringing them I decided to apply as they suggested I should. I was told they had sent me a letter. Mine is all completed now and was also was told a letter was sent to me to explain process completed and accepted. I most likely will never receive the letter. The only letter I have ever received from them was years ago when I was accepted for Class 2.

 

[Threadser]

I most likely will never receive the letter.

I am in the same position. I didn't get any correspondence from them regarding the changeover to class 3. I rang them and they said it they would re-issue it but I never got that either. I applied anyway and the website says my application has been processed but I haven't received any confirmation letter. It was the same with the class 2 annual billing. I didn't receive that the first year after paying the lump sum but I made a class 2 payment anyway and it was credited. I have checked my address with them and it is correct so I am at a loss what to do.

 

[getting_on]

I am at a loss what to do

My experience with them leads me to suggest that you need to keep calling.
Some of the people you come into contact with will be ineffective, other won't.
It's annoying and perhaps embarrassing to an extent but it's the squeaky wheel that gets oiled.
Be dogged without being unpleasant.
You're entitled to your letter.
In the past I've treated situations like this as a challenge, almost enjoying every bit of incompetence from the other end, knowing that
it strengthens my position.
Keep a record of all calls and ideally a contemporaneous record via emails to yourself summarising each interaction

 

[Sybilla]

My husband and I both applied and paid catch-up Class 2. He has received a letter and I haven’t, although I have always received the annual payment requests. I’ll probably just apply and see what happens.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

My experience with them leads me to suggest that you need to keep calling.

But why is it necessary to call?

Is it not enough to download the form and send it in?

Brendan