UK voluntary NICs; class 2 or 3

[Ferrets]

I've sent off my application for class 2 NICs, working up until we migrated in 2016.  

My wife worked until 2014, and then was a stay at home Mum until we migrated.  She did get NIC credits over that period as a child benefits recipient.

I spoke with HMRC about making voluntary payments, and they were unable to advise over the phone if she should be making class 2 or 3 voluntary contributions, and recommended sending an application in for class 2 for consideration.

With a turnaround time of 44+ weeks for applications at the moment is it worth going through the process to try and get class 2?  Or as I suspect it's clear cut that she can only get class 3 that we go straight to the paying for class 3?

 

Thoughts appreciated,

Cheers!

 

[swordvish]

The online form has a turnaround of about 5 weeks

[bonanza]

My partner did this last year when there was a mad rush on to meet the April deadline and HMRC and DWP went into meltdown to respond. The deadline got extended to April 2025 and timeliness have definitely improved a lot. Its worth sending in the form, the waiting time may well continue to  improve as the backlog is caught up and you've still got till end March next year to sort it all out. I would go for class 2, as the financial difference if you can prove you were not in the UK, is compelling. Coincidentally we sorted our back Ni class 2 contributions out today and were pleasantly surprised, a) how easily we got thru by phone and b) the personnel and processes have improved massively since June 2023 when we first sent off the form. 

[Ferrets]

On 06/09/2023 at 18:40, Ferrets said:

I've sent off my application for class 2 NICs, working up until we migrated in 2016.  

My wife worked until 2014, and then was a stay at home Mum until we migrated.  She did get NIC credits over that period as a child benefits recipient.

I spoke with HMRC about making voluntary payments, and they were unable to advise over the phone if she should be making class 2 or 3 voluntary contributions, and recommended sending an application in for class 2 for consideration.

With a turnaround time of 44+ weeks for applications at the moment is it worth going through the process to try and get class 2?  Or as I suspect it's clear cut that she can only get class 3 that we go straight to the paying for class 3?

 

Thoughts appreciated,

Cheers!

 

As an update we went through the process and she was accepted for class 2 payments.

Now the mission seems to be getting payments allocated to past years; I sent a cheque in January which was promptly cashed, and then they stopped the direct debit and started using the balance for current year (despite the clear covering letter of what years the cheque was for), unpicking that is turning into a challenge.

For my wife they didn't accept the direct debit and went to annual payment which seems to be easier as they sent a statement and we made online payment, but 8 weeks in we are still waiting for the allocation to her contributions.

Looks like a Friday night call to HMRC 

[Nemesis]

3 hours ago, Ferrets said:

As an update we went through the process and she was accepted for class 2 payments.

Now the mission seems to be getting payments allocated to past years; I sent a cheque in January which was promptly cashed, and then they stopped the direct debit and started using the balance for current year (despite the clear covering letter of what years the cheque was for), unpicking that is turning into a challenge.

For my wife they didn't accept the direct debit and went to annual payment which seems to be easier as they sent a statement and we made online payment, but 8 weeks in we are still waiting for the allocation to her contributions.

Looks like a Friday night call to HMRC 

I made several contributions while in Aus, and I reckon it was usually 4-5 months before the amounts showed in the online profile.

[Ferrets]

On 07/06/2024 at 11:30, Nemesis said:

I made several contributions while in Aus, and I reckon it was usually 4-5 months before the amounts showed in the online profile.

And now they have all dropped in as allocated, they are definately making us work to get all of these old allocations in before the April 2025 deadline!