I have been contributing to the UK state pension from Japan for about twenty years now with class 3 contributions with annual payments by cheque to HMRC. It is a great deal even at just over 900 pounds a year. However, every other Brit I meet in Japan who is paying voluntary NICs has been able to pay class 2 contributions, this is about 180 pounds a year, a bit of a difference. Indeed, one person who I introduced to voluntary NICs continually likes to remind and thank me for introducing him to class 2 contributions, rubbing it in a little bit.
So, my question is have any long-term British residents in Japan been able to change their class 3 contributions to class 2?
change UK state pension from NICs class 3 to 2
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Re: change UK state pension from NICs class 3 to 2
No, but I would like to! I clearly don't qualify to pay Class 2 under the posted rules, as I never worked in the UK but came here straight from uni...
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eMaxis Slim Shady
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Re: change UK state pension from NICs class 3 to 2
Me, too. As in straight from Uni. I got 16–18-year-old period covered because I was in full time education. However, even though I worked a part time job in the UK when I was at university these years don't count towards my 35 years of contributions. What are the actual criteria for class 2 to have worked for a while in the UK before you come to Japan?RetireJapan wrote: ↑Thu May 02, 2024 1:59 pm No, but I would like to! I clearly don't qualify to pay Class 2 under the posted rules, as I never worked in the UK but came here straight from uni...
Re: change UK state pension from NICs class 3 to 2
1. You’re employed or self-employed outside the UK, andWales4rugbyWC23 wrote: ↑Thu May 02, 2024 11:36 pmWhat are the actual criteria for class 2 to have worked for a while in the UK before you come to Japan?
2. You’ve lived in the UK for a continuous 3-year period at any time before the period for which NICs are to be paid, or before going abroad, you paid a set amount in NICs for 3 years or more (this will be checked when you ask to pay Class 2 NICs), and
3. Immediately before going abroad, you were ordinarily an employed or self-employed earner in the UK.
https://retirewiki.jp/wiki/United_Kingd ... rom_abroad
https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-i ... tributions
Re: change UK state pension from NICs class 3 to 2
The immediately part is quite ambiguous.adamu wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 12:48 am3. Immediately before going abroad, you were ordinarily an employed or self-employed earner in the UK.Wales4rugbyWC23 wrote: ↑Thu May 02, 2024 11:36 pmWhat are the actual criteria for class 2 to have worked for a while in the UK before you come to Japan?
https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-i ... tributions
GOV.UK community forum did actually answer this question for clarification on what it means by “immediately” before going abroad here on 12th April 2023: https://community.hmrc.gov.uk/customerf ... 155d9c773c
But it has since been removed (at least that’s how it appears when I view on my phone). Is there anyway to way back machine it?
Re: change UK state pension from NICs class 3 to 2
It's discussed in the wiki page that you chose to remove from the quoteTunaSki wrote: ↑Sat May 04, 2024 10:45 amThe immediately part is quite ambiguous.adamu wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 12:48 am3. Immediately before going abroad, you were ordinarily an employed or self-employed earner in the UK.Wales4rugbyWC23 wrote: ↑Thu May 02, 2024 11:36 pmWhat are the actual criteria for class 2 to have worked for a while in the UK before you come to Japan?
https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-i ... tributions
Re: change UK state pension from NICs class 3 to 2
Ah sorry, I’m still trying to figure out this quote stuff on my phone so that wasn’t intentional. But great resource btw. I’ve used it for some things in the pastadamu wrote: ↑Sat May 04, 2024 3:20 pmIt's discussed in the wiki page that you chose to remove from the quoteTunaSki wrote: ↑Sat May 04, 2024 10:45 amThe immediately part is quite ambiguous.adamu wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 12:48 am
3. Immediately before going abroad, you were ordinarily an employed or self-employed earner in the UK.
https://www.gov.uk/voluntary-national-i ... tributions
Although I couldn’t see on the Wiki where it specifically outlined clarification on what they mean by “immediately” like it did in that now lost HMRC community post From 12th April 2023