RetireJapan

I’ve just experienced the difference between phoning the Pension Service from abroad, and home. Back in the UK for a week, phoned the Pension Service at 8 am on the dot, didn’t even get to the musak - picked up seconds after selecting option 3, operator confirmed payment was worthwhile - and more or...

So is this of no help to people who have a letter, but have been unable to break through the musak of the Pension Service helpline or get their calls dropped repeatedly? I also wonder if they callback international numbers. I’ve had a callback request for 2 weeks with no joy, and am wondering if the...

Thanks for the info, CToshika, Out of interest, did you phone the Future Pensions Centre using the UK 0800 number - or the number for phoning from outside the UK? I ask because the outside UK number always drops on me after I select for the Pension Payment option. I’m seriously considering choosing ...

Thanks for the info, Deep Blue - I hope everything goes smoothly! What was the difference in the payment instructions, Deep Blue? Well, this is what the letter said. Paying your voluntary NICS For information about paying voluntary NICs while abroad, go to: www.gov.uk/pay-voluntary-class-3-national-...

Just off the phone with the HMRC Central Office. I’ve been told that the Government Gateway will NOT reflect changes from Class 3 to Class 2 NICs, and the HMRC system doesn’t communicate with the Pension system - hence the need to phone State Pensions. The very helpful lady there tried to connect me...

I’ll have to first see if I can get my Government Gateway Class 3 NICs converted to my ‘letter’ Class 2 NICs - both the NIC section, and the Pension Forecast have not reflected the change stated in my HMRC letter of late 2023. Then if everything looks fine-and-dandy on the GG after that, I think I s...

What was the difference in the payment instructions, Deep Blue? Did it state that you had to have a confirmation from the Pension Service to confirm if your State Pension will increase if you pay any shortfall? I can access my state pension forecast on gov.uk. I had filled out CF 83 online back in S...

Did you try to request a pension forecast, Deep Blue? My HMRC letter stated I had to, and the people at Friendly Fox’s number were unable to help me. They tried to transfer me to the crappy number you were using and immediately bounced 3 times. I had as much luck as them on my own. Back transfer is ...

Thanks Friendly Fox, Unfortunately, using the overseas number below I had a different experience from Deep Blue. The staff were helpful, but when I tried to find out if my state pension would increase if I paid the shortfall - as required by my letter from HMRC, they said they’d have to transfer me ...

I’m going to be paying my outstanding level 2 NICs very soon, and want to pick the brains of the Retire Japan UK community on the best way to do so. I’ve 17 years to pay back, 2006 to 2023. My initial plan was to just pay the whole lot, using bank transfer. However, given how bureaucracy goes, I was...