April deadline for NI top up to be extended?

[Mr Pointy]

I've just seen this article:

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/artic...

Obvioulsy this is a hot topic & it's not definate but a maybe.

[Simpo Two]

Mr Pointy said:

I've just seen this article:

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/pensions/artic...

Obvioulsy this is a hot topic & it's not definate but a maybe.

It would seem fair to do so.

Whilst I'm generally not in favour of replacing people with websites, what HMRC really need is a better website so people can (a) find out exactly how much they owe for each year, (b) pay it. Bingo, all done in a few minutes.

[alscar]

Simpo Two said:

It would seem fair to do so.

Whilst I'm generally not in favour of replacing people with websites, what HMRC really need is a better website so people can (a) find out exactly how much they owe for each year, (b) pay it. Bingo, all done in a few minutes.

Way too simple a solution for HMG but I’ll happily sign your petition - great idea.
To even reduce the phone call to one ( assuming you can get through ) would help.

[Whoozit]

alscar said:

Simpo Two said:

It would seem fair to do so.

Whilst I'm generally not in favour of replacing people with websites, what HMRC really need is a better website so people can (a) find out exactly how much they owe for each year, (b) pay it. Bingo, all done in a few minutes.

Way too simple a solution for HMG but I’ll happily sign your petition - great idea.
To even reduce the phone call to one ( assuming you can get through ) would help.

TBF this week it took me five minutes to refresh my Govt Gateway access using my passport and mobile phone, then access my NI records which showed exactly what the shortfalls are. I didn't try to pay yet, however there's a link to do so beside each shortfall.

[alscar]

Whoozit said:

TBF this week it took me five minutes to refresh my Govt Gateway access using my passport and mobile phone, then access my NI records which showed exactly what the shortfalls are. I didn't try to pay yet, however there's a link to do so beside each shortfall.

I think that’s the easy bit though - the link just gives you a phone number to call doesn’t it and that’s when the real issue starts.

[Mr Pointy]

Whoozit said:

alscar said:

Simpo Two said:

It would seem fair to do so.

Whilst I'm generally not in favour of replacing people with websites, what HMRC really need is a better website so people can (a) find out exactly how much they owe for each year, (b) pay it. Bingo, all done in a few minutes.

Way too simple a solution for HMG but I’ll happily sign your petition - great idea.
To even reduce the phone call to one ( assuming you can get through ) would help.

TBF this week it took me five minutes to refresh my Govt Gateway access using my passport and mobile phone, then access my NI records which showed exactly what the shortfalls are. I didn't try to pay yet, however there's a link to do so beside each shortfall.

Well there's a couple of issues there: firstly you're assuming the Pension Forecast you can see on the website is accurate & while it seems it's usually corrrect there have been people who have found it isn't, & secondly that forecast doesn't tell you if paying a shortfall for a particular year will actually increase your State Pension. Depending on your job history it may not do so, but HMRC will still take your money.

Speaking to the FP department is the only way of being sure but it seems it's impossible to get through at the moment.

[Simpo Two]

Whoozit said:

TBF this week it took me five minutes to refresh my Govt Gateway access using my passport and mobile phone, then access my NI records which showed exactly what the shortfalls are. I didn't try to pay yet, however there's a link to do so beside each shortfall.

It's easy enough using the Govt. Gateway details to see your NI record and get the Forecast and Estimate (which may be different), but in my case, while it shows which years are incomplete, it doesn't tell me by how much. If I click on 'details' it says something like 'trying to work it out' - and it says that for every year back to 2016. So how many years they need to work it out I don't know, and if you can't through on the phone that's the end of the trail.

[RenesisEvo]

I've had a look into this as I found it quite confusing, because of higher education I have a shortfall for one year, looking at my NI record it says I need another 31 years of contributions.

However should I then navigate to the pension forecast, on a completely different site seemingly (how modern and integrated...) it says I only need 15 years more contributions, and claims I am already at the maximum. Therefore I'd just lose money paying to rectify any shortfall. How can two different sources give such different information? I say this knowing full well how low the government set the bar for competence, and recognise I probably know the answer to that question already.

If I want absolute clarity, the only way will be to talk to a human being, that will be a challenge.

[Mr Pointy]

Extended to July 31st:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/pensions-retirement/ne...

[alscar]

Excellent news although I won’t tell my wife otherwise she will just put it off and of course no guarantee that getting through post 01April will be much easier.