UK State Pensions

[Drewth]

I read a discussion somewhere on this or another forum about various people's views on the eligibility to receive state pension.

I have made enquiries and have today received a letter from these people:

National Insurance Contributions Office, Benton Park View, Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1NG telephone: 0845 915 5996 quoting your NI number and you will be asked for your full name, date of birth and address as registered with the UK Government.

The Pensions Act 2007 (in Northern Ireland 200 introduces new State Pension entitlements for people who reach State Pension Age on or after 6th April 2010 (that is women born on/after 6th April, 1950 and men born on/after 6th April, 1945)

The number of qualifying years to receive a full state pension in these circumstances reduces to 30 (Thirty). That means that by paying NI contributions after this, you will not enhance your UK state pension.

I have stopped paying having paid over the odds.

State Bereavement Benefits for a wife or husband left behind are not affected by this new 30 year rule and should be subject of ongoing payments if desired but worth ringing or writing to the above for more details.

Worth checking up on for us 50 somethings I thought.

[golfer2536]

Hi
Just to let you know you can get a forecast of your pension on line at
Getting a State Pension forecast : Directgov - Money, tax and benefits

golfer25

[GAL]

You cannot get a projection if you are within 4 months of claiming
as for the qualifying time those of us who have the 40 years in ie. from age 15 to 55 do get extra pension for the extra years we have paid in it is not a lot
just thought you should know you WILL get more if you work longer than the 30 years.

[Drewth]

You cannot get a projection if you are within 4 months of claiming
as for the qualifying time those of us who have the 40 years in ie. from age 15 to 55 do get extra pension for the extra years we have paid in it is not a lot
just thought you should know you WILL get more if you work longer than the 30 years.

That is odd because the man I spoke with at the NI contributions office said that my state pension would not be enhanced by a penny by the overpayment in terms of months and years I have made. I'll ring him again.

[GAL]

That may be so on the people who will get a pension with the 30 years in
personally I have a projection and have extra contributions added such as serps
Probably a cost saving exercise by the government to get more money into the coffers and pay nowt out

[golfer2536]

My projection was the same as what everybody else gets at retirement. I have forty years + but as you only need 30/30 now, I gain nothing for the other 10 years!
golfer25

[Drewth]

My projection was the same as what everybody else gets at retirement. I have forty years + but as you only need 30/30 now, I gain nothing for the other 10 years!
golfer25

Indeed. Following GAL's posting, I have again telephoned the NI office and had a very long conversation with them. I have also now had an on line pension forecast which confirms what the NI people have said - that I have paid 30/30ths towards the state pension. In terms of the state pension, every payment I have made over and above those made for 30 years will not enhance my basic state pension. They are, as confirmed by the NI man, wasted payments which cannot be claimed back once paid. There is no way to enhance the state pension but I will receive £5 a week extra at today's prices from SERPS which I paid into.

The only point in voluntarily paying over the 30 years for those retiring after 2010 is to secure bereavement allowance for the surviving spouse which is payable for one year after the death of one of the married couple. However, as the NI man pointed out, there are cheaper term life assurance policies available for those wishing to make this arrangement.

[golfer2536]

Is it funny that the 30/30 pension has just been agreed after most of us have paid 10 years or more after the 30 year cut off. More of the UK Government's stealing our money!. Do they not take enough tax on petrol (80%) fags (80%) beer and spirits (50-70%) . When will they realise that at some point they have to give something back to those that are willing to work. Can they not see why the workers are leaving the country, to country's that appreciate men and woman who will work, and get something back in return!
Enough said!!
golfer25

[priddel]

Is it funny that the 30/30 pension has just been agreed after most of us have paid 10 years or more after the 30 year cut off. More of the UK Government's stealing our money!. Do they not take enough tax on petrol (80%) fags (80%) beer and spirits (50-70%) . When will they realise that at some point they have to give something back to those that are willing to work. Can they not see why the workers are leaving the country, to country's that appreciate men and woman who will work, and get something back in return!
Enough said!!
golfer25

Maybe this doesn't make any difference to you but allong with these changes are the changes in the retirement age ie 65 for both men and women rising to 68 years old for both before the state pension gets paid check this out
The Pension Service - State Pension - State Pension age calculator
this means if you are a woman and will not reach the age of 60 until after april 2010 then im affraid you have to wait that wee bit longer than you maybe thought before you become entitled(another well hid govt fact)

[Howard]

UK State Pensions

If you reach State Pension age on or after 6th April 2010 and had been paying Voluntary NI Contributions to ensure a full pension and under the new Act you have paid 30 or more years Class 1/2/3 contributions you can apply for a refund of the contributions paid on or after 25th May 2006 (the date the Pension White Paper was published) up to 26th July 2007 (the date the Pension Bill received Royal Assent) if you were not aware of the changes (i.e the 30 year rule) when you paid the contributions.
To claim go the website HM Revenue & Customs: Home Page and look up the notices "Refund of Voluntary Contributions following announcement by the Paymaster General on 16 January 2007" and "Refund of voluntary Class 2 or Class 3 N.I. contributions - Living outside the UK", download the application form and send it to Newcastle.
I received a letter from the Centre for Non-Residents dated 1st September 2006 advising of the proposal to introduce the 30 year rule and I stopped paying Voluntary Contributions so have I have claimed for repayment of 4contributions from June to September 2006.
Hope this helps any early retirees who reach 65 after April 2010.

[busylady]

Just on the bereavement pensions. I really looked into this before I left the UK three months ago and the government widow's pension definitely continues as long as you are eligible for it dependent on the NI contributions as above. Also, I am eligible for the E121re health insurance which has certain extra benefits. The Pension office were very helpful and if I hadn't have phoned I wouldn't have found out about the E121.

[Drewth]

If you reach State Pension age on or after 6th April 2010 and had been paying Voluntary NI Contributions to ensure a full pension and under the new Act you have paid 30 or more years Class 1/2/3 contributions you can apply for a refund of the contributions paid on or after 25th May 2006 (the date the Pension White Paper was published) up to 26th July 2007 (the date the Pension Bill received Royal Assent) if you were not aware of the changes (i.e the 30 year rule) when you paid the contributions.
To claim go the website HM Revenue & Customs: Home Page and look up the notices "Refund of Voluntary Contributions following announcement by the Paymaster General on 16 January 2007" and "Refund of voluntary Class 2 or Class 3 N.I. contributions - Living outside the UK", download the application form and send it to Newcastle.
I received a letter from the Centre for Non-Residents dated 1st September 2006 advising of the proposal to introduce the 30 year rule and I stopped paying Voluntary Contributions so have I have claimed for repayment of 4contributions from June to September 2006.
Hope this helps any early retirees who reach 65 after April 2010.

Yes, this is correct but regrettably in my case, the bulk of my overpayments were made by a then employer and therefore not reclaimable.