UK Pension Class 2/3 Applied vs Got

[Wales4rugbyWC23]

Some good news from Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement yesterday:

"State pension payments and means-tested and disability benefits to increase by 10.1%, in line with inflation."

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63555313

For UK citizens in Japan paying Class 2 and Class 3 NI contributions, this is good news.
The 10.1% increase far outstrips any inflation here in Japan.

Let's just hope the UK government continues to allow us to pay in from Japan for many more years to come....

I would slightly temper that good news with the fact that actual UK pensioners who are receiving their state pension in Japan would not be getting that 10.1% increase because UK state pensions are frozen once you start receiving it.

[Roger Van Zant]

Some good news from Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement yesterday:

"State pension payments and means-tested and disability benefits to increase by 10.1%, in line with inflation."

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63555313

For UK citizens in Japan paying Class 2 and Class 3 NI contributions, this is good news.
The 10.1% increase far outstrips any inflation here in Japan.

Let's just hope the UK government continues to allow us to pay in from Japan for many more years to come....

I would slightly temper that good news with the fact that actual UK pensioners who are receiving their state pension in Japan would not be getting that 10.1% increase because UK state pensions are frozen once you start receiving it.

Ah, good point.

[JimmyK]

Does anyone have any clear info on what the rules are for Class 2 acceptance? I believe it’s a combo of contributions made, how long they were made for and when the last one was made in relation to the timing of leaving UK.

[adamu]

Does anyone have any clear info on what the rules are for Class 2 acceptance?

No. But there's some info on the wiki.

https://retirewiki.jp/wiki/United_Kingd ... rom_abroad

[JimmyK]

Thanks. I’ve seen this info before. It’s useful, but a bit vague. Still, I think what would preclude me from Class 2 is the requirement to have been employed (either by a company, or self-employment) ‘immediately’ prior to leaving the UK for Japan. In my case, there was a period of a number of months of doing no work before leaving. Don’t think I’d signed on during that period either (it was about 30yrs ago, so memory a little hazy!), so no credits paid either. Looks like Class 3 is correct then. Not to worry. Still a good deal.

[adamu]

a bit vague

The whole process is vague. The only way to really find out is to send the form and see what the reply is. And even then, it seems there is still room to argue your case if you get denied. You should try for Class 2.

[JimmyK]

Thanks. You’re right about the vagueness! Already approved for Class 3, but after reading some posts about people questioning this and then getting approval for Class 2, I thought I might go back to them again. Maybe too late now. We’ll see.