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Re: Apply for class 3 contributions UK pension

Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 6:22 am
by beanhead
fools_gold wrote: Thu Nov 04, 2021 3:23 am
This sounds about right. I checked into my Government Gateway account yesterday
That is just showing off! :shock:

Re: Apply for class 3 contributions UK pension

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2021 11:56 am
by JimmyK
Hi there. I looked into my potential UK pension pot a while ago, via the Government website. I barely worked in the UK before moving to Japan, but I still have 3yrs’ of contributions that, as far as I understand it, is the minimum needed to add to it via Class 2 or 3 contributions. However, these 3yrs were comprised mainly of credits (mostly from signing on for benefits) and apparently these aren’t counted towards the min 3yrs contributions. I received a rather cut and dried mail from the UK government pension folk informing me this means I’m not entitled to any UK pension. No info on what I might be able to do to change that (such as returning to work in the UK to get the min 3 years under my belt). Rather a specific (and long!) post I know, but by any chance has anyone Brit out there had a similar experience? Any advice, or am I really up the proverbial creek without a paddle?!

Re: Apply for class 3 contributions UK pension

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2021 1:01 pm
by Beaglehound
JimmyK wrote: Mon Nov 15, 2021 11:56 am Hi there. I looked into my potential UK pension pot a while ago, via the Government website. I barely worked in the UK before moving to Japan, but I still have 3yrs’ of contributions that, as far as I understand it, is the minimum needed to add to it via Class 2 or 3 contributions. However, these 3yrs were comprised mainly of credits (mostly from signing on for benefits) and apparently these aren’t counted towards the min 3yrs contributions. I received a rather cut and dried mail from the UK government pension folk informing me this means I’m not entitled to any UK pension. No info on what I might be able to do to change that (such as returning to work in the UK to get the min 3 years under my belt). Rather a specific (and long!) post I know, but by any chance has anyone Brit out there had a similar experience? Any advice, or am I really up the proverbial creek without a paddle?!
Did you send off this form in the link below?

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... broad-ni38

From your post, I am not sure if you did that or simply asked about your current entitlement based on your contributions so far. If the latter, then the answer you got would make sense as you need at least ten years of contributions to build up any entitlement. If you have sent off form CF83 (in the link) and they said no based on your lack of paid contributions, I would try sending the form again, the rules appear to have changed and now just three years of residence in the U.K. seems to be enough to enable you to pay NICs from overseas.

Re: Apply for class 3 contributions UK pension

Posted: Mon Nov 15, 2021 9:58 pm
by Gareth
JimmyK wrote: Mon Nov 15, 2021 11:56 am by any chance has anyone Brit out there had a similar experience? Any advice, or am I really up the proverbial creek without a paddle?!
Hi. I was rejected from paying anything because apparently I didn’t meet the criteria. I emailed the government minister in charge of HMRC to complain. After about 3-4 months, I received an email from an efficient complaints manager at HMRC who sorted me out with class 2.

So worth sending the form off first. If you get rejected, try emailing the government minister in charge.

Good luck! Took me, all in all, about 2 years to get it all sorted. I nearly gave up several times but am so glad I persevered.

Re: Apply for class 3 contributions UK pension

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 4:32 am
by Bushiman
Gareth wrote: Mon Nov 15, 2021 9:58 pm
JimmyK wrote: Mon Nov 15, 2021 11:56 am by any chance has anyone Brit out there had a similar experience? Any advice, or am I really up the proverbial creek without a paddle?!
Hi. I was rejected from paying anything because apparently I didn’t meet the criteria. I emailed the government minister in charge of HMRC to complain. After about 3-4 months, I received an email from an efficient complaints manager at HMRC who sorted me out with class 2.

So worth sending the form off first. If you get rejected, try emailing the government minister in charge.

Good luck! Took me, all in all, about 2 years to get it all sorted. I nearly gave up several times but am so glad I persevered.
+1
I wrote a letter not emailed, but same outcome...
Took about a year total perhaps for everything to be sorted and payments made...

Re: Apply for class 3 contributions UK pension

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:25 am
by bryanc
sorry ,but who is the person in charge/gov minister who needs to be contacted about this?

Re: Apply for class 3 contributions UK pension

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:41 am
by Moneymatters
bryanc wrote: Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:25 am sorry ,but who is the person in charge/gov minister who needs to be contacted about this?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Revenue_and_Customs
looks like Lucy Frazer.

email address here:
https://www.lucyfrazer.org.uk/

Re: Apply for class 3 contributions UK pension

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:45 am
by RetireJapan
Of course, the more random expats contact the Minister in charge, the more likely it is that they will decide to close this loophole altogether ;)

Re: Apply for class 3 contributions UK pension

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2021 2:36 pm
by adamu
RetireJapan wrote: Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:45 am Of course, the more random expats contact the Minister in charge, the more likely it is that they will decide to close this loophole altogether ;)
Unless you take them out to sushi in Ginza.

*goes back to reading Private Eye*

Re: Apply for class 3 contributions UK pension

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2021 3:50 am
by Bushiman
bryanc wrote: Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:25 am sorry ,but who is the person in charge/gov minister who needs to be contacted about this?
I wrote my letter to the guy who signed his name at the bottom of my first rejection letter outlining all the reasons why I shouldn't be rejected.
That worked for me...
RetireJapan wrote: Tue Nov 16, 2021 7:45 am Of course, the more random expats contact the Minister in charge, the more likely it is that they will decide to close this loophole altogether ;)
Better not!?