Message for UK pension enthusiasts…

[IloveJapan]

…Of which I am not one! Better to assume the state won’t pay you anything, and yeah, I DO believe means testing will be a thing…

Anyhow, the government has set up a callback request form via the Future Pension Centre, whereby you can request a callback. If you put in the callback request before April 5 then your deadline for increased pension contributions is extended.

This was such a simple thing to do, on this sunny Sunday morning, so with hot chocolate and biscuits in hand, I just put in my name and number (that’s all they asked for), applied, and they sent an irritatingly standard message:

“We've sent your request to the DWP Future Pension Centre.

They will call you back within 8 weeks.

Your request is now in a queue, please do not send another request.”

There is ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION of who I am…so I don’t know how seriously people should take it. I mean, even if you show them a screenshot, there is nothing there that identifies you…

It is also unclear how long people WOULD have to pay up if they followed the above procedure…

[RetireJapan]

“We've sent your request to the DWP Future Pension Centre.

They will call you back within 8 weeks.

Your request is now in a queue, please do not send another request.”

There is ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION of who I am…so I don’t know how seriously people should take it. I mean, even if you show them a screenshot, there is nothing there that identifies you…

That seems a bit (very) dodgy. Given how bad they are at communicating by letter, I am not sure I would trust that

Just checked my record online, and the payments I made a few months ago are still not reflected in my account. I guess I'll have to call them...

[Tkydon]

Just a reminder that the urgency is for Back Contributions before 2019 (back as far as 2006).

After 5 April 2025, you will still be able to make Back Contributions to fill holes in you pension history, but only going back 6 years (back to 2019).

[Tkydon]

Just checked my record online, and the payments I made a few months ago are still not reflected in my account. I guess I'll have to call them...

I heard Class 3 Contributions are being credited quite quickly (a couple of months), but Class 2 Contributions are taking up to a year to get credited.

[RetireJapan]

I heard Class 3 Contributions are being credited quite quickly (a couple of months), but Class 2 Contributions are taking up to a year to get credited.

I'm Class 3, so I presume my contributions are just sitting there and will just sit there until I call them and ask them to actually credit them to my account (which is what happened last time ).

"Yes, sir. We received your money, but didn't know what it was for so we didn't do anything with it..."

[kuma]

Callback service now added to the wiki in the intro to the UK state pension and the summary of pension-related actions:

https://retirewiki.jp/wiki/United_Kingd ... te_Pension
https://retirewiki.jp/wiki/United_Kingd ... ed_actions

[kuma]

It is also unclear how long people WOULD have to pay up if they followed the above procedure…

Communication and clarity do not seem to be their strong suits.

However, it *seems* to be that *if* people are accepted to backpay voluntary NICs, HMRC ordinarily send a letter with an 8-week deadline from the date of the letter in which to make any payments at the rates quoted in the letter.

In the case of an entirely new application, this could be another substantial extension of the deadline...

Enquire by 5th April.
HMRC call back within 8 weeks (if they abide by their own deadline!).
Potentially, an application.
Months (?) for them to assess.
Then 8 weeks to pay (at the rates in the letter, and for any gaps more than 6 years ago).

[Mr Tardy]

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 phone will ever ring.

It is also unclear how long people WOULD have to pay up if they followed the above procedure…

Communication and clarity do not seem to be their strong suits.

However, it *seems* to be that *if* people are accepted to backpay voluntary NICs, HMRC ordinarily send a letter with an 8-week deadline from the date of the letter in which to make any payments at the rates quoted in the letter.

In the case of an entirely new application, this could be another substantial extension of the deadline...

Enquire by 5th April.
HMRC call back within 8 weeks (if they abide by their own deadline!).
Potentially, an application.
Months (?) for them to assess.
Then 8 weeks to pay (at the rates in the letter, and for any gaps more than 6 years ago).

[kuma]

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?

The wording of the callback form suggests it is not limited to those making 'first contact' with the department:

Complete this form if you're struggling to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by phone to pay voluntary National Insurance Contributions.

DWP will contact you on the phone number you provide in this form to discuss payment of voluntary National Insurance contributions.

https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/request-a-cal ... ntact-form

I also wonder if they callback international numbers.

The form asks for the country code for international numbers, suggesting they will call internationally.

I’ve had a callback request for 2 weeks with no joy, and am wondering if the phone will ever ring.

Fingers crossed. By all accounts they are swamped.

[allatsea]

Enquire by 5th April.
HMRC call back within 8 weeks (if they abide by their own deadline!).
Potentially, an application.
Months (?) for them to assess.
Then 8 weeks to pay (at the rates in the letter, and for any gaps more than 6 years ago).

Months seems to be the case for assessing online applications. However, postal applications are taking 12+ months to assess. I sent mine in August 2024 and am now expecting a reply in September 2025.
Regarding payment, two days ago an HMRC answer on the HMRC customer forums stated, "you will have a 4 week timeframe to be able to pay after 5 April 2025. For example, if we issue you a response to your CF83 application on 20 April 2025, you will have until 20 May 2025 to pay". Not great for people who are living overseas or away on vacation for a few weeks.