RetireJapan

KyushuWoozy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 08, 2018 12:20 am also have started a job here within a week of arriving. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong but I've read this on a couple of other forums.

This is not the case. In fact, I was charged class 3 for the period up until I got a job, and then class 2 from then onwards.

Thanks. It's good info to add to our huge pot on this issue.

Now that I've resigned myself to likely having to pay Class 3 contributions, my biggest worry is the time it takes for HMRC to reply. Here on RetireJapan, people are saying as quick as 3.5months and up to 7 months!? Good lord... I really need to backpay the last 12yrs. If they don't reply before April, then I'm bang out of luck.... I wish I'd known about all this earlier... Anyway, my application went in the post last week, so fingers crossed.

I wouldn't worry too much about the delay. Taking action to apply now will be a much better use of your time than worrying about the potential delay when you do

Bushiman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 09, 2018 3:59 am Now that I've resigned myself to likely having to pay Class 3 contributions, my biggest worry is the time it takes for HMRC to reply. Here on RetireJapan, people are saying as quick as 3.5months and up to 7 months!? Good lord... I really need to backpay the last 12yrs. If they don't reply before April, then I'm bang out of luck.... I wish I'd known about all this earlier... Anyway, my application went in the post last week, so fingers crossed.

I'm in the same boat - have just sent off the form and if I can backpay 9 years will qualify for full pension. But even if we can't make the 35 year limit as long as we have ten years payments we will qualify for something!

Bushiman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 09, 2018 3:59 am Now that I've resigned myself to likely having to pay Class 3 contributions, my biggest worry is the time it takes for HMRC to reply. If they don't reply before April, then I'm bang out of luck

What happens in April?

KyushuWoozy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:38 amWhat happens in April?

It goes back to the usual maximum of 6yrs of possible backpaying... It was increased to 12. And, I think I was reading somewhere, the yearly cost will increase -so it would be nicer to get 12yrs paid at the cheaper rates...

Bushiman wrote: ↑Tue Oct 09, 2018 3:59 am Now that I've resigned myself to likely having to pay Class 3 contributions...

Came home to a brown envelope from HMRC today...
The heart started racing, sweat beads gathered on my brow...
You can see why from my last correspondence with HMRC (See the 4th post down.)

Opened it up and it was a confirmation letter to start Direct Debit monthly payments from this May, and that they were also going to take £115.05 to cover NI contributions due from 08/04/18 to 05/01/19... Now, that sounded way too cheap... There is nothing on the 3 page letter to say what class of repayments l had been deemed eligible for, so I phoned them up...
Unbelievably, I have been asked to make Class 2 repayments! I'm so happy! Now to chase them up about backpaying...

A big thanks to the RetireJapan community for giving me the information and motivation to apply... Not just for the UK pension, but my iDeco and NISA are also up and running thanks to this site...

That is great news, congratulations! Always nice to hear about positive outcomes

Good news, although the requirements for class two aren't any clearer in my mind. At least we know it's possible to get class two with a break in work before moving abroad, despite the advice to the contrary. I wonder if the fact you were studying before leaving had any effect.