State pension letter

I've previously purchased additional voluntary Class 3 contributions as I will have a shortfall on my state pension.

I've given it a while for my pension forecast to update (which it didn't), then phoned HMRC to check they'd received my payments.

Both times my payments were sat in presumably a suspense account, awaiting allocation.
The person I spoke with allocated my payments there and then, and I was able immediately to see my updated forecast.

This was pre covid, so I guess everything is taking longer.

At least you know it’s sorted now, Shandy. It’ll be a worry off your mind.

It’s interesting that you had to ring the NI office back to confirm the years you’re paying for. I wasn’t told to do that, though I did discuss it with someone at HMRC when they gave me the bank details.

Guess who’ll be hanging on that telephone line tomorrow!

I've bitten the bullet and paid for three years 2016, 2017, and 2018. The cost of these years will be increased on 5 April 2021. My pension in 2023 will now be £165 pw, and I'm going to leave it at that. Now interest rates are negligible, I need to conserve my house sale funds for the maintenance and repairs I have to do here.

It's a real faff so set aside time if you are going to do it.

I waited 40 minutes for Future Pensions and they explained I would benefit at £5 per week per year I paid from 2016. If I paid all five years to date I'd receive the full state pension of £175.60 (?), a cost of £3,920.

I was told to ring HMRC NI office to get the bank details and a NI reference, another 40 minutes holding on. Once I'd discussed the costs and got my reference, I went to my on line banking and paid. I then had to ring the NI office back - another 30 minutes holding - to tell them which years to allocate this payment to. It will take six to ten weeks to update the forecast.

I'm glad it's done. Now to find out how to get new patio doors!

I’ve just spent 40minutes waiting for the phone to be answered, by a person who basically just took my number for someone else to call me back. My pension date was March 1st, I had an email acknowledging my claim on 10th November 2020, not heard a peep, I was expecting a letter telling me which day of the week and date of commencement. I know how much to expect as I have a Gateway account, it’s annoying.

HMRC is struggling too, and as they work closely together it’s leading to big delays. I made a voluntary contribution 3 weeks ago to buy two incomplete years. My Gateway account hasn’t been updated or my pension uplifted, so I rang to make sure everything was okay. I got no further than the automated message, which says in effect that payments take up to 10 weeks to process, so go away and come back later if it hasn’t already been that long.

It’s a bit of a worry though, when several hundred pounds whoosh out of your account and you get no confirmation that it’s gone to the right account.

According to money expert, Martin Lewis, the Pension Service is struggling. Pandemic aside, they are having to review thousands of pensions for women who do not receive a full State pension. Mine is under review and when I phoned last week a very helpful lady said they are snowed under with work and have been told not to give a timescale on when queries etc will be dealt with.

Shinamae

Sundaze

Shinamae, I phoned Future Pensions (0191 218 3600) to determine the cost of paying additional voluntary Class 3 NI contributions, as I will have a shortfall in my state pension when I eventually claim it.
They're very helpful, and can send you a pension forecast in the post too.

If you decide that it's worth while making the additional payment(s), you then ring HMRC (0300 200 3500).
They will give you details of how to make the payment and a reference number to quote when making the bank transfer.

Hope this helps.

Ahhhh.... sorry I probably haven’t been very clear, I already get my pension I am just questioning the amount......?

The new state pension rules are quite complicated now and the amount does not necessarily equate to the years a person paid in, as I said up post you get a starting amount, if your starting amount is more than the current basic you will get that plus any protected payments after that your NICs /Credits will not increase your pension, if your starting amount is less then the basic then your NICs/Credits will increase your pension until you reach the basic or reach pension age which ever comes sooner, so if you were expecting a pension based on say 50 years of NICs that may not be the case, hope you get it sorted but don't be disappointed if you find your amount is correct

Sundaze

No problem Shinamae, hopefully the information will be of help to someone

I think I will ring those numbers anyway (they might even pick up the damn phone!!)who knows they might be able to put me through to somebody you can actually help me so thank you Sundaze...?

No problem Shinamae, hopefully the information will be of help to someone

Sundaze

*Shinamae*, I phoned Future Pensions (0191 218 3600) to determine the cost of paying additional voluntary Class 3 NI contributions, as I will have a shortfall in my state pension when I eventually claim it.
They're very helpful, and can send you a pension forecast in the post too.

If you decide that it's worth while making the additional payment(s), you then ring HMRC (0300 200 3500).
They will give you details of how to make the payment and a reference number to quote when making the bank transfer.

Hope this helps.

Ahhhh.... sorry I probably haven’t been very clear, I already get my pension I am just questioning the amount......?

Shinamae, I phoned Future Pensions (0191 218 3600) to determine the cost of paying additional voluntary Class 3 NI contributions, as I will have a shortfall in my state pension when I eventually claim it.
They're very helpful, and can send you a pension forecast in the post too.

If you decide that it's worth while making the additional payment(s), you then ring HMRC (0300 200 3500).
They will give you details of how to make the payment and a reference number to quote when making the bank transfer.

Hope this helps.

Marydoll

*Shinamae*, a few years ago, I could no longer get into my Gateway account, so I made a new one. No problems ever since.
Access to it has saved me a considerable number of phone calls, including organising a tax rebate.

Ok Marydoll,thank you....?

Shinamae, a few years ago, I could no longer get into my Gateway account, so I made a new one. No problems ever since.
Access to it has saved me a considerable number of phone calls, including organising a tax rebate.

Puzzler61

That’s a disgrace Chewbacca. Good on you for persevering.

Absolutely ?

I know Covid has been a nightmare but I think now it’s just a convenient excuse for not answering the phones, they want us to do everything online, I had made a gateway account a couple of years ago but could not even get into that so I am left a little peeved to put it mildly! ?‍♀️

That’s a disgrace Chewbacca. Good on you for persevering.

So frustrating Shinamae.
Don’t give up. E mail? Write a letter? ?

I had a similar problem when I tried to claim my deferred state pension Shinamae. Tried online first but that said that if you'd deferred claiming for more than 1 year, you had to phone them and request the forms to be posted to you. I tried to call the phone number provided every day for 2 weeks and it either rang out unanswered or someone answered and said it was the wrong number. I kept a list of every number given and called and who, if anyone, I'd spoken to and what they'd said. By the end of a fortnight, with almost 20 attempts made, I eventually landed with someone who said, "Oh, I can take your details over the phone now, no need to send the forms out to you." 3 days later, I received formal confirmation of my pension amount and due date but I did make a formal complaint, by email, and had an acknowledgement that they would contact me about my "concerns and difficulties", but, surprise, surprise, haven't heard anything further so far.

Yes puzzler, that is the one I called and it just isn’t taking any calls, it’s not just busy and I tried a couple of other numbers with the same result ? I then phoned Age UK they are closed at the moment but hopefully will ring me back and maybe they can shed some light on how to actually speak to someone to do with my pension...thanks though..?

If you are in England (not sure if the same if you live in Scotland or Wales ) the advertised no. for government pensions is : 0800 731 0469 shinamae .
Is that the number you called?
It does say online that “Phone lines are currently busier than normal owing to Coronavirus”.
Good Luck.

I have been trying for weeks to get a hold of somebody to check my state pension is correct and I am getting nowhere at all,can anybody guide me with a phone number because the one I have used is not taking calls telling need to call back another time because of Covid...

I got an invitation letter at the end of January for a pension due at the end of April, and then another at the end of February confirming that they were processing my application.

I applied for my bus pass this week - now I KNOW that I'm eventually going to get to State Pension age before they move it another six years!!

Have to say although I knew I would have to pay tax once I received my State Pension, the amount each month is quite considerable which I wasn't expecting. However it is still worth it. They'll get you all ways

I too am in receipt of a teacher's pension and I was already was aware that I will pay more tax when I receive my state pension in May.
I'm not complaining, I will still be better off.

Alygran I too will pay tax on my pension when I get it in just over 2 years time.
They will not tax the state pension but take it at source from the occ pen, but you pay on the whole amount of the 2 pensions together.