UK State Pension – “Gaps” on your NI record
This article will help you understand:
- Identifying Gaps on your NI record
- Paying Voluntary NI Contributions for previous years
- Avail of strong financial payback in retirement
- Brexit and your UK State Pension
A recent exchange with a client, and it is one I probably have taken for granted prior to this, has prompted this post with regards to dealing with gaps in you UK state pension. I was explaining to her that there is an extended window for paying voluntary NI contributions for previous years, what HM Revenue & Customs call “gaps” on your NI pension record. She could not believe that you could pay for 14 historical years of her UK state pension. Indeed, she was surprised she could pay for any historical years given she had left the UK in 1992.
Under normal rules the most historic years you can pay voluntary National Insurance (NI) Contributions for is 6 years. So, in the current year that means all 6 years 2015/16 – 2020/21 inclusive. However, a concession was granted by HMG arising from changes to the UK State Pension in April 2016. The concession effectively meant you could pay voluntary contributions for all years from 2006/07 up to date… provided of course, they were missing from you NI record.
The concession was an effort by HMG to permit people to maximise their NI record before the 2016 changes. In the current year, 2020/21, that means the maximum historical gap is 14 years, 2006/07 – 2019/20. So, what does that mean for your UK State Pension?
Helping a client identify ‘Gaps’ on their NI record
My client had 6 qualifying years on your NI pension record. On it’s own she was not eligible for any UK state pension as the minimum eligibility requirement is 10 qualifying years.
However, assuming she paid for the maximum 14 years missing from her NI record, 2006-07 – 2019/20, she would now have 20 qualifying years on her NI record equating to a UK state pension of £91.62pw! Of course, it will cost either £11,089 (at the Class 3 rate) or just £2,227 (at the Class 2 rate) to secure that pension but either scenario represents a very strong payback. At worst, she will recover her payment within 28 months of retirement at the Class 3 rate, or, a mere 6 months if she is eligible for the lower Class 2 rate.
Bear in mind, the cost of a typical life annuity giving you £91.62pw (£4,764pa) would require you to have something like £120 – 125,000 at retirement date to pay for it! With the UK state pension you can secure an equivalent retirement income for £11,089 at worst or just £2,227 if you are eligible for Class 2 contributions.
The above example highlights the value in addressing “gaps” in your NI record. Also, the “pre-Brexit” reference above is not an issue for Irish citizens as we will continue to share mutual access to the respective social security systems after Brexit under the terms of the CTA (Common Travel Area) formally renewed in February 2019.
The extended window paying for gaps in your NI record will end in April 2023, and from then, the normal window of 6 historic years will be restored.
Still confused? Let Frank in USP Financial help you identify ‘Gaps’ in you NI record so that you can enjoy a strong payback on your UK pension. Call 086 8525672 or email fb@uspfinancial.ie
I completed the HMRC “Application to pay National Insurance contributions abroad” in March, but have heard nothing back. Is that to be expected due to the backlog of applications?
Stephen,
I would not be expecting an answer from them until the back end of the year at the earliest. My average turnaround time with HMRC is 6 – 9 months but I suspect it will be even longer on this occasion as they are being overwhelmed with applications in Newcastle from all over the world, hence probably why HMG gave an extension on the deadline in the first place
Finally got a response from HMRC …. 8 months after applying!
That is about an average response time! In fairness to HMRC they have been deluged with applications for the last 18 months so they have a massive backlog
My husband is 66 already receiving a uk pension of 400 per month. There are gaps in his record. Can he top up those gaps now so that he can increase his pension
Yes, he should be able to pay voluntary contributions for certain missing years on his NI record but I suspect he will only get the default and more expensive Class 3 options as he is over the retirement age (66). Of course, you have to apply to HMRC first for approval before you pay the contributions.