That NI contribution thing

[Simpo Two]

Before April this year I rang the number where you wait for 45 mins to get the 16 digit number to pay extra NI. Great; I paid the sum quoted to the account and reference given.

But then the payment has to be allocated to a particular year, and to do that you have to call another number. So I rang the other number where you wait for 25 mins, spoke to an assistant who took my details and he said I'd get a call back within 8 weeks. Nothing.

Anyone else in this position? Should I call again?

[ctdctd]

Look at your online NI account and see if it's been allocated to the required year.

[trickywoo]

You need to be patient but I’ve found the NI department to be fairly competent.

I wrote to them about a couple of missing years in error and they simply changed them to full year on my record without any further communication.

[Mr-B]

I tried ringing to see if I could fill in missing years, left a request for a callback, got a call to confirm my NI No. and DoB and they told me someone would be in touch, still waiting for that call.

[mikeiow]

ctdctd said:

Look at your online NI account and see if it's been allocated to the required year.

Sounds like the easiest thing to do.
Wife spoke with them a few years back & they were very helpful, but queues do what queues do….

[Simpo Two]

ctdctd said:

Look at your online NI account and see if it's been allocated to the required year.

'2024 to 2025: Your record for this year is not available yet'

I'm currently £10pw short so I just need that year to be included. Paid, but not sure it's joined up.




Amusingly, as far back as 2019/2020 it says 'We are checking this year to see if it counts towards your pension. We’ll update your record when this is finished, you do not need to do anything.'

[Bobtherallyfan]

When I did it this year, I didn’t need to make any phone call. Logged on, system listed incomplete years and amounts needed, choose the cheapest, paid and a few days later everything had updated. Weird.

[Bobtherallyfan]

When I did it this year, I didn’t need to make any phone call. Logged on, system listed incomplete years and amounts needed, choose the cheapest, paid and a few days later everything had updated. Weird.

[Sheetmaself]

I seem to of missed this, what is it and should we all be doing it?

[Simpo Two]

Bobtherallyfan said:

When I did it this year, I didn t need to make any phone call. Logged on, system listed incomplete years and amounts needed, choose the cheapest, paid and a few days later everything had updated. Weird.

That's how it should be. But the system was woefully old and when people started piling in with voluntary contributions it pretty much collapsed. It seems to be different for everybody.

Sheetmaself said:

I seem to of missed this, what is it and should we all be doing it?

This is about making sure you've got enough full years of NI contributions to get a full state pension. Up until last April it was possible to make up missing years beyond six years ago (which are cheaper); now it's only back to six years. My record was buggered up when I was a student on industrial placement, so I have two part years which don't count.

[Sheetmaself]

Brilliant, thank you and guess i should of checked and paid attention!

[Sheetmaself]

I seem to of missed this, what is it and should we all be doing it?